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While volunteering with a minibike program in Asheville, local resident Robert Trigueros saw the successes of the program in children like Preston.
Murphy - Ever since he moved here about six years ago, Robert Trigueros wanted to bring to the tri-state area a minibike program, like the one he supported and volunteered with in Asheville. This spring, it will become a reality.
“It feels great,” he said. “I’m really excited about the program and bringing it to Cherokee County.”
The program in Asheville was run by Eliada, a non-profit agency serving children and families. It served as a second-chance program for children, with a lesson plan that provided goals to motivate them.
“I just loved the program and saw changes in the kids,” Trigueros said. “I find it amazing how the kids transform … It’s the most gratifying thing I’ve ever done.”
In Murphy, Trigueros is using his organization, the Pediatric Cancer Treatment Foundation, to run the Minibike Youth Program. All funds for the minibike program were raised specifically for the program, as he said no funds were taken from the cancer programs.
The minibike program will be open to all children ages 5-15, although space is limited. The program will include individualized goals for children as they progress through the program. It is not any one type of kid, which Trigueros thinks will be great for the community.
While he has the basics covered – with two locations and enough bikes to start, he is at the stage where he is looking for sponsors to sustain a continuing program. His goal is to have a few more minibikes so he could have up to 10 kids per session. Each minibike costs $1,800-4,000, depending on the make and model.
While Trigueros has opportunities for individuals to make contributions, he would love to get more businesses behind the program. He added that it is an opportunity for businesses to create loyal customers through their support of kids and their families. He has already gained support from Walmart, Farley Insurance, Yamaha and Blue Ridge Yamaha, Fly Racing, EVS Sports, Fannin County MX Park and Cherokee Guns.
He plans to start signing up kids in February, with the program starting in April. The program will be held in two locations – in Brasstown and Fannin County, Ga.
For details, email rtrigueros.pctf@att.net or visit PCTF – Minibike Youth Program on Facebook.
Books donated to
aviation program
Peachtree – Lisa Turner, a director with the Western Carolina Youth Aviation Foundation and author of Dream Take Flight, donated a box of her books to Tri-County Early College High School’s aviation program.
“The book is meant to get young people excited about reaching a goal, and flying specifically,” Turner said. “It fits right in with the goals of the foundation.”
The Western Carolina Youth Aviation Foundation is a fundraising organization that was established earlier this year to support, encourage, guide and facilitate aviation career educational and flight training programs for students in the area.
In fact, teacher Bryan Byrne said the foundation was instrumental in bringing the aviation courses to the early college high school. For details, email Bryne at bryan.byrne@cherokee.k12.nc.us, David Hourdequin at drh@dremy.com or Turner at lisa@lisaturner.com.
Samantha Sinclair is the Scouting Around columnist for the Cherokee Scout. You can reach her by phone, 837-5122, Ext. 24; or email, scoutingaround@cherokee-
scout.com.