MANUFACTURING ENGINEER AND local firefighter Keegan Sullivan riding the smallest bike assembled. Photo courtesy of Jessica Blouin

VERGENNES — Collins Aerospace in Vergennes had a bike-building event on Wednesday, May 3. Eleven teams of four people raced to assemble twelve bikes purchased by Collins.

Once assembled, they brought their bikes to an inspection station to inflate the tires and have the bike inspected for correct assembly. Once the tires were inflated and everything looked good, one member of each team put on a helmet and rode their team’s bike the length of the cafeteria across the finish line in front of a crowd of cheering fans.

After a final safety check, the bikes were delivered (along with helmets and locks) to children at the Boys and Girls Club of Vergennes and The John Graham Shelter. Collins also held a bake sale on that day, which raised $500. With company matches to the charitable donations, organizers were able to donate $500 each to the Boys and Girls Club of Vergennes and The John Graham Shelter.

THE COLLINS TEAM poses with the bikes they assembled.
Photo courtesy of Jessica Blouin