Vernon Hills police donate bikes for school's new P.E. biking unit

Hawthorn Middle School North's physical education teachers are excited to introduce a new biking unit, made possible with the assistance of the Vernon Hills Police Department and M&M Cyclery in Mundelein.

The unit started on a virtual basis this school year, with students learning about biking safety, maintenance and how to access local trails. They will begin riding the bikes during the next school year.

"We are grateful to the police department and M & M Cyclery for helping us with the bikes," said Hawthorn P.E. teacher Kyle McKenzie. "The unit would not be possible without their participation."

The police department provided the school with approximately 25 unclaimed bikes. While the department makes every effort to find the owners of recovered bikes, its policy is to give them away if the owners cannot be located within six months.

"We are more than happy to help serve the community and get these bikes to kids," said Crime Prevention/Property Officer Jeff Hemesath with the Vernon Hills Police Department.

As many of the bikes are missing parts and lack maintenance, M&M Cyclery has volunteered to assess and to help service the bikes. The bicycle shop has already made some repairs and will continue to refurbish them in the fall.

Hawthorn Middle School North is accepting donated bikes. For more information, contact Kyle McKenzie at mckenziek@hawthorn73.org.

Hawthorn School District 73 is a preschool through eighth-grade public school district serving approximately 4,000 students. It serves all or portions of the communities of Vernon Hills, Mundelein, Libertyville, Indian Creek and unincorporated areas of Lake County.

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