Feb. 16 Waller Junior High (WJH) School held its 14th Annual Bulldog Bike Ride and Pancake Breakfast. The event is a major fundraiser for WJH with all proceeds going towards student incentive programs, activities, and field trips. Planning for the event begins in the fall semester and takes several months to organize by WJH Teacher and Ride Coordinator Kathy Bankston with the help of WJH staff, students, and family members.

Participants may choose to follow 25, 32, or 50-mile routes. This year, 290 people registered for the ride, which began and ended at the Waller ISD Auxiliary Stadium where riders were cheered on by students. Along the routes, there were four rest stops for bikers to grab a snack and drink. Following the ride, participants were invited into the WJH cafeteria for a breakfast of fresh, homemade pancakes, sausage, milk, juice, and coffee.

WJH volunteers are crucial to the success of the event. Students help organize registration packets, equipment, snacks, and set up before ride day. On the day, students and staff work registration and the rest stops, as well as serve the homemade breakfast. Staff also arranges strategic areas along the bike route to gather groups to cheer on riders as they pass.

“I think students learn community service, how to organize an event, and social skills whey they volunteer to help,” Bankston said.

The Bulldog Bike Ride is also a recognized ride by the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society. It is a recommended training ride for the BP MS 150, a 140-170 mile fundraising bike ride from Houston to Austin.