Class rebuilds bicycle to benefit autism fund

Inside the Classroom

By Venice Buhain | The Olympian • Published September 22, 2008

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OLYMPIA – For Marshall Middle School sixth-grader Corajean Lackman, 12, giving up orchestra class was worth learning how to build a bike and helping kids with autism.

She and others in teachers Todd Fulton and Karen Bickel's combined sixth- and seventh-grade enrichment class did both, as they built a BMX bicycle that will be auctioned to benefit the Washington chapter of nonprofit group Talk About Curing Autism.

"I had to drop orchestra in order to do this," Corajean said. "Now that I know about TACA, I want to do more to help kids" with autism.

The bike will be auctioned at "Ante Up for Autism," an Oct. 3 fundraiser in Southern California that will be hosted by TACA celebrity spokeswoman Jenny McCarthy and bicyclist Lance Armstrong.

About 25 students rebuilt the bike from an old bicycle frame donated to the class. The students refurbished the bicycle with salvaged accessories, such as the chain, brakes and inner tubes.

"We got our hands greasy and had dirty nails and got hit in the head with the bike frame," said seventh-grader Kris Freitas, 12.

Kris added that putting the bike together also involved some science.

"This might not seem like actual science, but it's teaching us mechanics, balance and gravity," he said.

Fulton, who did similar bike-building projects when he taught at Olympia High School, said the students chose the charity, which is headed in Washington by Dean and Denise Fulton of Lacey.

The money raised with the bike will go directly to the local chapter, which was organized this year, Denise Fulton said.

Todd Fulton said he and Dean Fulton are cousins, but the teacher said he didn't steer his class toward the group.

The students said they were impressed that Dean Fulton raised money for autism research and family support without getting paid and that he also raised $6,000 for TACA by running in the Tacoma Marathon.

They also said they liked that Armstrong would be involved.

Seventh-grader Jessica Heimbigner, 12, was impressed by "the fact that we are young and in middle school, and we were helping people — they're letting us help. And I, personally, love Lance Armstrong."

Todd Fulton said the enrichment class at Marshall emphasizes skills that can translate to success in many areas, such as making a goal and scheduling time to do large tasks. He said the project also emphasizes reusing and recycling and serving the community. The enrichment class is working on choosing its next service project, he said.

Sixth-grader Michael Cunningham, 12, also said that the class will pay off for many of the students in the future.

"All of us will be able to make a bike ourselves," he said.

Venice Buhain covers education for The Olympian. She can be reached at 360-754-5445 or vbuhain@theolympian.com.