Bike to Work

The staff at Christian Life Daycare are proof that Bike to Work Week can initiate some great changes in lifestyle and health. In 2008 Sheila Keats and Monica Brown, staff members at the Christian Life Daycare on Merecroft Road, Campbell River read about Bike to Work week in the Courier Islander. They decided to enter a team and asked other staff if they would like to participate. Much to their surprise eleven staff members signed up for their BTWW team. None of these participants were regular cyclists and no one owned a fancy bike or bike gear.

After dusting off their 25 year old mountain bikes and 30 year old 10 speeds, they had them tuned up for safety and made ready for the road. Everyone invested in a good bike helmet and they started cycling to work. Some staff cycled from as far away as Crawford Road to the south or Campbellton in the north.

“BTWW was great for staff morale.” said Sheila. “It improved our fitness and health and reduced sick time”. The project was so successful that even after BTWW was over the staff continued with their own fitness challenge. “Staff were able to earn Timmy Dollars for choosing an environmentally friendly method of getting to and from work.” said Monica. “They could bike, walk or ride transit and the “dollars” earned could be cashed in for a gift certificate to Tim Hortons. It was a popular incentive.”

At Christian Life Daycare they have now installed a shower and bike racks to encourage staff to continue cycling to work. The staff are preparing for BTWW 2009 and want to challenge other daycares in town to enter a team in BTWW. For more information on BTWW (May 11 – 17, 2009) call Meghan or Linda at 250-923-7911 or check out the web site at http://www.biketowork.ca/campbell_river

Teachers from Christian Life Daycare are ready to ride!