SACO — Local students received an incentive to read with the Books for Bikes Challenge.

The program, sponsored by Saco Masonic Lodge No. 9, encourages children to read with the chance to win a new bicycle and helmet.

The program donated 91 bicycles — 30 at Gov. Fairfield School, 30 at Young School and 30 at C.K. Burns, as well as a bicycle that was raffled off to benefit local schools at a bicycle rodeo on Saturday.

Fairfield students gathered Friday afternoon in the gymnasium, greeted by a bevy of shiny new bicycles. From March 24 through May 12, second graders at the school received an entry into a bike raffle for each book they read.

The students waited in anticipation to see if they would be the lucky recipients of a new bicycle.

“Whether you won a bike today or not, every one of you guys is a winner, because you read,” said local mason Andrew Nightingale. He said reading has many benefits including increasing knowledge and broadening imagination.

“Reading is such an important skill to have,” he said. “Reading a book is never a time waster.”

Students shouted and cheered as the winners names were drawn and called out.

The bicycles were picked up Saturday at a bike rodeo at the city’s public works facility.

Second-grader Lucy Perry said she felt “really happy and excited” when she heard her name called out.

Fellow student Kiera McVeigh was enthusiastic as well.

“I just want to go home and yell ‘I won,’” she said.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.