[Albuquerque, NM, September 19, 2025]: With a mission to teach every child in America to ride a bike in kindergarten PE class, All Kids Bike—a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit—is bringing its Kindergarten PE Learn-to-Ride Program to Alameda Elementary School thanks the fundraising efforts of Doug Thurston.
To celebrate his 65th birthday, Doug Thurston took on the 120-mile Triple Bypass ride in Colorado—one of the nation’s most challenging one-day cycling events. Instead of riding just for himself, Thurston used the milestone to raise funds to bring the All Kids Bike program to nearby Alameda Elementary in Albuquerque, giving local kindergarteners the chance to learn the life-changing skill of riding a bike.
“I’ve helped organize charity running events that have raised millions of dollars through the years, but I had never personally raised funds,” Thurston said. “I know how much cycling has meant to me and All Kids Bike looked like a great program to help others safely learn a fun life-time activity.”
What began as a milestone ride on Thurston’s 65th birthday took an unexpected turn when a crash near the finish line left him with a broken femur and in emergency surgery. Yet, with the support of friends, family, and colleagues, he quickly rallied—raising enough within two weeks to fully fund the All Kids Bike program. Alameda Elementary celebrated the introduction of the program with a kickoff event alongside Doug Thurston and school administrators.
All Kids Bike is a ready-to-teach program including teacher training and certification, comprehensive 8 lesson curriculum with lesson plans, games and activities, a fleet of 24 Strider balance-to-pedal bikes, pedal conversion kits, fully adjustable student helmets, an instructor bike with pedal conversion kit and helmet, two rolling storage racks, and access to a resource portal with live support for the life of the program.
The All Kids Bike Kindergarten PE Learn-to-Ride Program supports the development of the whole child—encouraging emotional growth, cognitive engagement, and social interaction through active, movement-based learning. By introducing biking as in-school education, the program helps build confidence, coordination, and a sense of personal achievement in young students.
“We are grateful to Doug Thurston for turning his birthday challenge into a gift for kids at Alameda Elementary,” said Lisa Weyer, executive director of the Strider Education Foundation. “His dedication is a true example of how one person’s passion can ripple out to impact a whole community, bringing the joy and confidence of riding to an entire generation of children.”
At Alameda Elementary, the program is expected to positively impact approximately 54 kindergarten students each year by teaching them how to ride a bike in PE class. With equipment that has an expected lifespan of 7 to 10 years, it is estimated that up to 540 students will benefit from this initiative over the next decade.
“We are so thankful to Doug Thurston for making this possible for our students,” said Chris Montano, Community School Impact Coordinator at Alameda Elementary. “Learning to ride a bike is a milestone every child deserves, and now our kindergarteners will gain confidence, independence, and joy that will stay with them for life.”