SACO — While clouds covered the sun for much of the morning, that didn’t put a damper on the Saco Bike Rodeo on Saturday.

It was the third year for the community-wide event geared to elementary school children and their families, said Jennifer Sirois, one of the organizers. The rodeo was formerly a Young School only event. But “we recognized this should be more and a community event and this is what happened” she said while pointing to the throngs of children and their families that turned out at the Saco Public Works Department on North Street between 9 a.m. and noon.

At the rodeo children “get new helmets from the Micheal T. Goulet (Traumatic Brain Injury And Epilepsy) Foundation, get their bikes tuned up and go the bike safety course,” Sirois said. In addition, they could buy refreshments and raffle tickets. The proceeds go to the Young School and the Governor John Fairfield School parent teacher organizations to fund field trips, school supplies and more. There was also a bounce house and other fun activities.

Kate Alley of Saco attended the event with her two sons and husband. Five-year-old Joshua rode the safety course set up to teach young riders how to ride safely. Her older son was with the Boy Scouts who were the volunteers helping the children maneuver the course.

“It’s just fund to come out and see all the kids smiling,” she said.

“I heard about it from the school,” Jen L’Italien said as her children were getting their helmets fitted. “I wanted to get their helmets checked out and wanted to support (the event).”

For children who had helmets, volunteers with the Michael T. Goulet Foundation, were making sure they fit correctly. There were also giving away helmets to those without.

Jess Remple volunteered at the bike rodeo with the foundation named for a Saco resident who suffered traumatic brain injury from a snowmobile accident and died as a young adult from complications from an epileptic seizure.

“It’s a good cause,” Remple said as to why he volunteered. In addition, the occupational therapist said, “I work in neurological rehabilitation and brain injury and I really want to prevent brain injury.”

Children could not only get free helmets at the rodeo but also 71 lucky boys and girls were getting free bicycles. The bicycles were awarded to students in grades two through five attending Saco elementary schools the Masonic Lodge No. 9’s Bikes for Books program, said lodge member Andy Nightingale. “We encourage them to read books,” he said. For every book a student reads a card is filled out and this year 71 cards were pulled. This year, he said, “a total of over 2,500 books were read, which is fantastic. “I think it’s the best year yet.”

In addition to the PTOs, the Masons and Michael T. Goulet Foundation, others involved in putting on the bike rodeo include the Saco police and fire departments, the Parks and Recreation and Public Works departments and the Saco Bay Rotary.

And the families said they appreciated it.

Sven Johnson who came to the event with his wife children said they heard about it through a notice brought home by 6-year-old son Finn.

“We needed to check his bike out and check his helmet out,” said Sven Johnson. “Come to find out, his helmet is too small. We got a free helmet, I can’t believe it.”

— Associate Editor Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324, or dmendros@journaltribune.com.