The Knights of Columbus recently sponsored the fifth annual bike-a-thon at Hamlin Beach State Park to benefit St. Jude's Children's Hospital and other charities. The 2001 event was dedicated to the memory of Robert Burke who had been an active supporter of the bike-a-thon.

On Saturday, May 19, the skies cooperated for the fifth annual Knights of Columbus - St. Jude's Children's Hospital Bike-A-Thon at Hamlin Beach State Park. Almost 30 participants from Hamlin, Parma, Clarkson, Sweden, Kendall, LeRoy, and the city of Rochester combined their efforts to raise over $2,000.

This year's men's division winner was Nicholas Flanagan of Hamlin. The women's division saw Gena Marie Korn of LeRoy, take home the prize. Both raised and collected the most pledges in their respective categories. They each received a brand new mountain bike courtesy of Burke's Hardware in Hamlin.

Burke's has contributed the grand prize every year for the Knights of Columbus. This year's bike-a-thon was dedicated in the memory of Robert Burke, proprietor of Burke's Hardware who passed away recently. Mr. Burke was a staunch supporter of many causes and every year came through for the bike-a-thon, according to Chairman Mark Glogowski.

This year's event was co-sponsored by the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Council of Hamlin and St. Leo Council from Hilton. All participants received certificates of participation. Participants that raised $35 to $74.99 will also receive a specially designed tee shirt from St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Those that raised $75 or more were eligible for other prizes as well. The funds that are raised through the bike-a-thon go each year to help support the hospital as well as other worthy local charities. Almost $10,000 has been raised so far through the local bike-a-thon since the Knights of Columbus have sponsored it.

The Knights of Columbus would like to thank the local merchants and services that generously donated to this year's great event. Besides Burke's Hardware, Ryan's Brockport Big M, Furnal's Hilton Big M, Village Donuts of Hilton, Family Dollar Stores, Wal-Mart Stores, Lift-Bridge Book Stores, McDonald's, Krony's Pizzas, Mark's Pizzerias, Adventure Landing, Bicycle Outfitters of Brockport, All Season Services, Vermicycle Corporation, and Braview Realty, all supplied assistance in the form of cash, supplies, or prizes for this event. Organizers also appreciate the Hamlin Ambulance Corps and the New York State Park Police for supplying on-site medical and security services.