Generous Donor Provides Free Bike Helmets to Montana Kids

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - A very generous donor who has asked to remain anonymous has donated thousands of dollars to equip every child in Seeley Lake with free safety approved bicycle helmets.

I spoke with John Bigart III, Executive Director of the Brain Injury Alliance for Montana about what happened Thursday in Seeley Lake.

Thursday Was a Great Day for Seeley Lake School Kids

“We had a generous Seeley Lake resident that had reached out to us a while ago and said, ‘Hey, we keep seeing young kids riding around Seeley Lake and going to school, and they don't have helmets on’,” began Bigart. “That’s probably because it's a low income community and things like the (Pyramid) mill shutting down and all that stuff, there's a lot of folks up in that area that are probably making decisions of whether or not they buy food or they buy their kid a helmet.”

Bigart said this individual wanted to make sure that no child would be left behind when it comes to have a bike helmet.

Every Child from Kindergarten Through 6th Grade Got a New Bike Helmet

“This individual stepped up, and they paid for helmets for every single student from kindergarten all the way through eighth grade,” he said. “We obviously collaborated with the sheriff's department, who is very involved with the school, so we went up there, and we just did a huge helmet giveaway.”

Bigart said this donor wanted each child to have the finest quality and safest helmet available, despite the cost.

“We actually took the time to fit every single one of the helmets on the kids’ heads,” he said. “They're good, high quality helmets. They're not just cheap bike helmets. They're multi-sport helmets that the kids can wear riding bikes and riding scooters and skateboards and all that. You know, I work with a lot of brain injury survivors, and I do a lot of things for my work, but the helmet giveaways are absolutely what I love the most, and just what brings me a ton of joy to see the smiles on the kids faces.”

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MCSO Deputy Mike Sunderland and Other Deputies Helped at the Event

Bigert took the opportunity to promote good brain health and safety.

“Concussions and mild traumatic brain injuries in youth are very, very significant when it comes to anything with a wheel on it, and whether motorized or non motorized,” he said. “Sure, we have tough kids and tough parents, but a lot of times they just don't have the money to go out and buy even a $10 helmet sometimes, and so, so this is just an absolute blessing for the parents and the kids in that community. At the end of the day, it's about  protecting heads and saving brains.”

Bigart also singled out Missoula County Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Sunderland, who praised the generous donor for ensuring that every child in Seeley Lake received a state of the art bike safety helmet.

Approximately 175 helmets were given out at Thursday’s event.