Community leaders have urged parents to become role models of helmet safety. The call is however, made as the 25th annual Ride Cool bicycle safety event gears up to distribute free protective gear to local children.
25-year mission to protect young cyclists with helmet safety
According to the WGEM report, the Riedel Foundation and Blessing Health Clinic have teamed up to promote cycling safety. This year, the partnership has awarded a $6,000 grant to sustain the Ride Cool initiative.
Additionally, the program will provide free bicycle helmets to children and host hands-on activities. It will also teach proper helmet fitting and essential road safety practices.
Meanwhile, nationwidechildrens.org underscored the urgency of the initiative. The data reports that over 220,000 children under the age of 19 are treated in U.S. emergency departments annually.
Health officials call for parental role modeling
Dr. Susan Meidl of Blessing Health confirmed that the grant funds will directly benefit local families.
“This money will strengthen safety outcomes for Hannibal families by putting high-quality helmets directly into the hands of children who need them,” Dr. Meidl stated.
She also issued a direct request to parents, urging them to wear helmets to model safe behavior for their children.
Similarly, Sarah Deien, administrator of the Riedel Foundation emphasized on the importance of intergenerational safety habits.
Deien praised the program for incentivizing children to wear helmets, stressing that parental involvement is crucial. She explained that by seeing their parents wear helmets, children are more likely to adopt the habit.
The 2026 Ride Cool safety event is scheduled for Saturday, May 30, at the Blessing Health Clinic. Families are encouraged to attend and take advantage of the free safety resources.
In another development, Pure Earth has received a multi-year investment from the Audacious Project to reduce childhood lead poisoning in emerging economies. The nonprofit unveiled plans to protect over 500 million children by 2033,
Meanwhile, the number of children recruited and used by armed groups in Haiti has skyrocketed by an estimated 200 per cent in 2025. UNICEF said this reflects a growing reliance on the exploitation of children amid ongoing violence by armed groups.