While reading and biking don’t typically go together, they combine perfectly in the Hopkins Elementary School library, where students can work their wiggles out while reading. 

Students love riding the bikes, and the benefits are manifold. Research shows that physical activity stimulates brain function, enhancing cognitive abilities and improving memory retention. This means that while students pedal away, they’re priming their brains to absorb more information from the books they're reading. 

Principal Heidi Wagner is enthusiastic about the impact on the students, saying, "The bikes have become a favorite among students. It's incredible to see them so engaged—both physically and mentally—while they read."

Hopkins purchased the bikes after winning a $1,000 Stride grant in 2023. The Stride gives schools the chance to compete in three categories to win health and wellness grants. The grants are instrumental in bringing innovative wellness initiatives, like the exercise bikes, into schools to benefit students' physical and mental health.

You can help support health and wellness initiatives for your school when you register for The Stride on Sunday, October 27, at Littleton Museum. Don’t forget to select your favorite school so they can win incentives.