LOTS OF ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR 2nd LEBRON’S KING FOR KIDS BIKEATHON
AKRON, Ohio June 19, 2006– Nearly 3,000 riders are expected to participate in the 2nd Annual
LeBron’s King for Kids Bikeathon on Saturday, June 24, but the Bikeathon is only part of the activities planned for the weekend.
On Friday evening from
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. LeBron and the
James Family Foundation will host a special Celebrity Billiards Event for sponsors, top fund-raisers and invited guests (including Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Amare Stoudemire and Randy Moss). This event is an invitation only affair and it will be held at Tangier Restaurant in West Akron. There will be a limited number of tickets available to the public at a cost of $200 each. The Billiards event will include a Silent Auction, featuring autographed items from LeBron and other sports celebrities.
On Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. prior to the Bikeathon, LeBron will participate in a special one-mile ride with children selected for outstanding citizenship and character from the Akron Public Schools, Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority and the Akron Recreation Bureau. These children (ages 9-11) will receive free Schwinn bicycles and helmets and take a ride down Main Street with LeBron.
“This event is all about the kids, and they deserve something nice for working hard in school and being good citizens in the community,” said James.
Prior to the Bikeathon, there will be a brief opening ceremony featuring LeBron, Akron Mayor Don Plusquelic, Title Sponsor Microsoft Windows Live, and the celebrity riders. The 8-mile King for Kids Bikeathon ride will start at 11 a.m. immediately followed by children and families riding on the abbreviated 3-mile “Family Friendly Route.” To ensure safety, both rides will be escorted by police bikes and motorcycles.
Beginning at 10:30 a.m. Lock 3 Park (next to Akron’s historic Civic Theatre) will be open for a Community Celebration featuring LeBron, his celebrity guests and the Bikeathon participants. This is a FREE event, open to the public and everyone is invited to attend.
“The whole bike-a-thon weekend is really a community effort. We’ll have more than 3,000 people participating as riders or volunteers and that’s something that Akron should be proud of and celebrate,” said James Family Foundation director Chris Dennis.
The Community Celebration will kick off at 10:30 a.m. on the Lock 3 Main Stage hosted by WZAK personality and Akron’s own Kym Sellers. The celebration will include stage performances, roving entertainment for children with mascots, an assortment of clowns, a magician and balloon artists.
The Cleveland Cavaliers will also provide interactive exhibits and games such as the “Pop a Shot,” face and hair painting, “Tall and Short of It” and “Hand over Foot” displays. Attendees can enjoy a Rock Climbing Wall, animals from the Akron Zoo, and other fun games and activities for all ages. There will also be delicious food choices available from Sheetz and Lisa’s Catering and Greek Pastries. A special awards ceremony featuring LeBron and his celebrity riders, Dwyane Wade, Gilbert Arenas, Chris Paul, Randy Moss, J.R. Smith, and others will conclude the festivities at 1:30 p.m.
LeBron’s King for Kids Bikeathon is presented by Microsoft Windows Live and supported by the City of Akron. The Community Celebration is sponsored by Summa Health System and SummaCare. Other Bikeathon Sponsors include: FirstMerit Bank, Sam’s Club, Buckeye Community Health Plan, Time Warner Cable, Squire, Sanders and Dempsey, L.L.P., HRSI/FirstCredit International, the Brennan Foundation, Hauser and Taylor, Infocision, Robert Morris Pontiac/Cadillac/GMC, Mercedes Benz of North Olmstead, Nike, Coke/Powerade, Juice Batteries, Upper Deck, Schwinn, Cannondale, Roadway Express, Inc., Sheetz and Hitchcock Fleming & Associates.
The James Family Foundation will donate proceeds from the event to the Akron Area YMCA and the Akron Urban League.
