RUMFORD – The students of St. Athanasius St. John School participated in a bike-a-thon to raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., for the 13th year.

This year’s 80 participants turned in more than $3,300 in pledges and donations. That brings the 13-year total to nearly $30,000.

Irene Beane was the coordinator of the event. For most of these students, It was the eighth or ninth year most of the students were involved in the bike-a-thon.

Chelsea DeRoehn, daughter of Gary and Susan DeRoehn of Mexico and a third- grader, set a goal for herself at the beginning of the summer. She was determined to learn to ride a bicycle so she could join her friends and schoolmates in the fall event. Not only did she learn to ride a bicycle, she pedaled 12.5 miles in the ride.