Local cyclist promotes safety with donation

A GEELONG cyclist has turned a horrifying experience into something positive for 20 primary school students.

Avid member of Cycling Geelong George Belcher has used a portion of the money he received in a Transport Accident Commission payout to provide students at Whittington Primary School with free bike helmets.

Belcher was involved in a serious bicycle accident three years ago, where all he remembers is waking up in the intensive care unit at the Alfred Hospital with his wife and priest by his bedside.

Since then, he has been on a mission to promote safe cycling habits amongst junior riders.

“Three years ago, if I hadn’t been wearing a helmet, I wouldn’t be here,” Belcher said when presenting the students with their own to take home.

Belcher said he provided the students with helmets because he wanted to improve children’s safety when bike riding, particularly after his own accident.

“I’ve smashed two helmets in my time. The second one probably saved me from being killed and the first certainly would have saved some brain injury, I would say.

“It’s just a case of getting a few helmets out into the community and encouraging children to wear them.”

For students to secure one of the donated pieces of safety equipment, they were required to create a design.

Whittington Primary School Principal Emma Lamb said receiving the helmets supports students’ wellbeing and learning.

“Road and bike safety are supported at a whole school level. We want our kids on bikes, but to do so safely.

“It’s demonstrating happy and healthy kids.”

Students were more than happy to accept the bike helmets, with many planning to be out and about in them over the summer school holidays.

Since Belcher’s long road to recovery in the aftermath of his accident, he is now back on the bike and on the hunt for more schools to donate helmets to.