Fifty-three unique riders rode on exercise bikes during a four-hour period as part of the Ride to Build Kid City Spin-a-Thon. Riders donated or received sponsored donations from community members for each 30-minute block for which they signed up. Nearly $2,000 was raised, double the $1,000 organizers hoped to see.

"That is awesome," said organizer and Kid City committee member Martha Heneghan.

The committee is working to raise $90,000 in order to cover the local share of a $425,000 replacement project included in the school’s proposed $7.2 million capital project.

While the amount generated was indeed "awesome," it was doubly so because of the manner in which it was raised.

Instead of donating money in exchange for dinner or a take-home snack food, participants in Sunday’s Spin-a-Thon donated their money and time in exchange for a piece of fruit or a Powerbar and buckets of sweat.

Not as glamorous as a gala or as scrumptious as a spaghetti dinner, but a healthy and positive way to raise money for a good cause nonetheless.

Especially considering the cause is a playground for students and community members where physical activity is encouraged and enjoyable.

Too many community fundraisers emphasize eating, often in large quantities and often including foods that are not exactly healthful in large doses. It’s a positive message for the students as well, as we all should now know that obesity among children is at a record level.

The Kid City Spin-a-Thon is a fine example of how fundraisers can be beneficial on multiple levels and we hope to see more local organizations choose this route in the future.