For immediate release

Contact:  Nicole Belpedio, nbelpedio@delanocatholic.com, 763-972-2528

St. Peter’s School Students Seek Public’s Support for “Ride for a Reason”

School’s Annual Marathon for Nonpublic Education Fundraiser

with Big Purpose Starts Today

Delano, Minn. – Mon., Sept. 1, 2009 – Today through early October, St. Peter’s School students will ask for the public’s support of their second annual “Ride for a Reason,” a special bike ride associated with the school’s Marathon for Nonpublic Education fundraiser.

Kindergarten through sixth-grade students participating in the Marathon are seeking donors to sponsor their approximately six-mile bike ride through Delano on Sat., Oct 3rd. One hundred percent of the money collected goes directly to St. Peter’s School.

As in past years, the students are “riding for a reason, collecting names of special people or groups for whom they’ll ride “in memory of” or “in honor of” that day. The ride falls in step with the school’s mission.

“Ride for a Reason is a unique and effective way to help teach children to stop, think beyond their own needs, and reflect upon others and pray for their well-being,” said Nicole Belpedio, St. Peter’s School principal. “It transforms a fund drive into an extension of our classrooms — and our faith.”

Ambitious Goal

In 2008, the school raised $50,240 and collected more than 1,000 names. By October 3, the school hopes to have raised about the same amount and collected even more names.

“We were deeply moved by the community’s generosity and willingness to open themselves up to be a part of Ride for a Reason last year. We’re aiming to do more,” Belpedio said. “We will ride for people who are suffering from illness or who have survived a battle with a debilitating disease. Our students can also ride for a group of people in need of support, such as our troops or families and businesses negatively affected by the economy.”

Ride for a Reason in the Classroom

The students will add the names they collect to a five- by eight-foot Ride for a Reason art mural, designed by first-grade teacher Suzanne Salonek-Yager and upper-grade students. Local businesses that support Ride for a Reason will appear on the mural, which will be on display for the public to see at the Marathon finish line in the City Park and the St. Peter’s School booth at the Chamber of Commerce Harvest Days Festival on September 26.

In addition, Belpedio, Fr. Christopher Wenthe and the school’s teachers will guide the students during the month in a variety of special activities, such as a special Mass and weekly educational units that convey the importance of supporting others.

How to Help

Members of the public who are not asked by a student to support Ride for a Reason are invited to share names of people or groups for whom the students can ride and provide pledges of any size. Both may be sent to St. Peter’s School, 235 South 2nd Street, P.O. Box 470, Delano, MN 55328. For more information, visit www.stpetersschool-delano.com or call 763-972-2528.

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