One of the most joyous feelings of freedom for many kids is taking off on a bike with no one holding on to the seat or having training wheels to guide them on their journey. Add in the fact that it is fun to ride a bike and getting a good workout at the same time.

However, like with anything else, accidents can happen and safety should always be a top priority, especially when riding a bike.

That was the goal for the safety rodeo this week at the St. Mary’s-Ironton campus. The event was a collective effort through several entities that included the Ironton and Lawrence County health departments, AutoZone, Dickess Auto Repair and the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office.

Each participant received a new helmet, a certificate of safety and was educated on why wearing a helmet when riding a bike is important.

We applaud the efforts of all those involved in the event and working to ensure our children understand how wearing a helmet can help reduce head injuries when riding their bikes.

Events like this are a wonderful asset for Lawrence County’s residents, and working to make our communities safer is a key component that we should all be proud of.