Community to ring bike bells for beloved local teacher fighting cancer
A friend of mine, Leson Dunkley Hansen, is one year into an intense struggle with breast cancer. She is a single mother of four children, ages 10 through 19, and is a beloved teacher at The Boulder Community School of Integrated Studies.
A silver lining in her struggle has been the overwhelming support from the community, at school and beyond. Almost every night for a year, someone has brought dinner to her north Boulder home. Others have run errands and helped get the kids where they need to go.
This outpouring of support is culminating this Saturday afternoon at a unique fundraiser. We're seeking 1,000 people to turn out at the New Vista High School field to ring bike bells under the direction of a gifted conductor, to tunes of recognizable songs. Registration costs $10 and bike bells will be available on scene for purchase, also benefiting Leson's family. The Guinness World Record authorities have authorized this event as one aiming to break the record for "Largest Bike Bell Musical Ensemble," previously set by 503 German bike bell ringers.
Look for a story about this effort and Leson's plight in tomorrow's Daily Camera. And please read the press release below for information on how you, your family and your friends can join what may be the most creative fundraising effort Boulder has seen in some time.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Fundraiser Seeks 1,000 Participants to Break Guinness World Record to Benefit Boulder School Teacher Boulder, Colorado April 24, 2009 ¨ This event is to benefit Leson Dunkley and her four children, Alys, James, Austin and Emma Hansen, ages 10 – 19. We are attempting to break the Guinness World Record™ for “Largest Bike Bell Musical Ensemble”--most people ringing their bike bells at once to a recognizable song for at least five minutes. ¨ The current record is held by a German group and stands at 503 bike bell ringers. We are aiming for 1,000 bike bell ringers so that we remain the record holders for a long time and raise a fund for Leson so that she and her children do not have to worry about losing their home while Leson undergoes a third round of chemotherapy. ¨ This event will take place at New Vista High School on Saturday, May 9. Arrival is between 3 - 3:45 p.m., with bike bell ringing at 4 p.m. New Vista High School is located on the northwest corner of Broadway and Baseline in Boulder. ¨ A donation of $10 is requested for participation in the event. One hundred percent of proceeds will go to Leson and her children. Donations will go even further because The Beanstalk Foundation, a local nonprofit, is providing a matching grant of $2,500.¨ For complete information including registration and donation procedures, please go to http://ringyourbikebellforleson.blogspot.com. Pre-registration is encouraged and very much appreciated. Registration will also be available at the event.¨ Leson is a well-loved Boulder Valley School District teacher, having taught kindergarten, fourth and fifth grades for the past six years. Her children have attended or are still attending New Vista High School, Boulder High School, the Watershed School, Manhattan Middle School, Centennial Middle School, Shining Mountain Kindergarten and Boulder Community School of Integrated Studies.¨ Leson was diagnosed with breast cancer one year ago, following the loss of her mother to breast cancer. She is currently undergoing her third round of chemotherapy and is in need of financial assistance.¨ Incredibell bike bells from Boulder’s Mirrycle Corporation will be available for purchase for $7 and $10 at the event.¨ The students of BCSIS elementary school where Leson is a teacher organized a spare change collection recently that netted $1,437.90. Included in this was a donation made by two sisters of their three-year collection of change for a trip to Disney World. ¨ For more information, contact Cynthia Carosella at 303-748-3037, cynthiacarosella@gmail.com###
Leson and family: Leson Dunkley with her children (L-R) Alys, Emma, James and Austin
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