The Panola Watchman (Carthage, Tex.), Vol. [136], No. [16], Ed. 1 Sunday, February 24, 2008 Page: 56 of 58
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Crusading for
Bike Safi
by SHERYL
KAYNE
For kids on bicycles, riding
streets is a lot safer than it used to be in Stamford,
Conn., thanks to Glenn and Peggy Coppola.
Since 1995, the Coppolas have given away more
than 24,000 free bicycle helmets to local children.
The couple's mission was launched after their only
child, 8-year-old Timothy, collided on a bicycle
with a neighbor’s car in a cul-de-sac only 100 feet
away from his home. Timothy, on his friend's bike
without his helmet, suffered a permanent brain
injury and died 22 months later.
"It's the only time we can ever recall him riding
without a helmet," says Peggy Coppola, 62, who
started the annual helmet giveaway with her husband,
Glenn, the year after Timothy’s death. Glenn, 55, a
30-year-veteran of the Stamford police department,
enlisted the help of his fellow officers for the project.
“We've been partners right from the beginning," says
Joe Kennedy, president of the Stamford Police Associa-
tion, which provides volunteers and donates about half
the costs of purchasing helmets tor the Timothy G>p-
pola Memorial Bicycle Helmet Giveaway.
"Research has proven that wearing a helmet can
reduce the risk of a head injury by 85 percent," says
Kathy Hoffman, bicycle safety coordinator for Bell
Sports, a leading manufacturer of biking helmets.
Sheryl Kayne is a freelance writer in Weston. Conn.
"I organize the snacks and hand them out to
everybody," says Quinn Foley, 13, of nearby Fairfield,
who's been a volunteer since she was 6. Working
the event over the years has had a profound effect
on Quinn and her friends, especially when they ride
their bikes. “We always wear our helmets," she says.
Stamford F.lks Lodge 899 and local businesses
donate money to buy helmets, office supplies,
doughnuts, deli lunches, snacks and T-shirts for
volunteers. Regional newspapers and radio and
television stations carry stories. Some 10.000 flyers
are distributed to Stamford middle and elementary
schools and youth centers.
"About 120 volunteers are needed for the different
stations," says Melodye Colucci-Stackpole, 39, of nearby
Fairfield, who first volunteered for a giveaway eight
years ago and has participated each year since. "Peggy
and Glenn have such a passion for this, working with
them makes you develop that passion, «x>."
The Coppolas have been honored and recognized
over the years with awards, citations and badges
from the mayor, governor and police association.
But “the real reward," Glenn says, "is hearing back
from very grateful parents whose children had
accidents and were wearing a helmet."
“Because of Timmy and the program," adds Peggy,
"we know that we have saved at least one child. And
even if it was only one child, it was worth it."
More than 24,000 children have received free bicycle helmet* tn the Timothy
The helmet giveaway is held each year just prior to
Mother's Day, “to direct public awareness to the impor-
tance of wearing bike helmets as the biking season
begins," says Peggy, who recently retired after working for
38 years as a registered nurse. This year’s event is sched-
uled May .3 at Stamford Hospital's Tully Health Center,
where hundreds of kids and young teens will line up to
choose helmets and be measured for a proper fit.
The Coppolas have transformed the heartache of
their own fossjnto a joyous event for the entire com-
munitya^So many people have participated right
from me very beginning,” says Mary Maher, 64,
Peggy's sister and fellow Stamford resident. “The
police officers do the hardest work—-setting up,
unpacking 2,000 helmets, and then breaking it
down. Everyone does whatever’s needed, from
crowd control to measuring heads."
“Each child's head is measured with a
piece of string," explains Peggy. "They're
then given a piece of paper with the
size before moving on to the hel-
met display of styles and colors.”
a helmet is selected, vol-
unteers create a custom fit with
Velcro pads and make final
adjustments. Afterward, every-
one picks up free bike-safety
handouts, coloring books, yo-
yos, drinks, snacks and other
giveaways.
Glenn and Peggy Coppola
assist neighborhood kids
Kelly and Keri Gallagher
with their new
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The Panola Watchman (Carthage, Tex.), Vol. [136], No. [16], Ed. 1 Sunday, February 24, 2008, newspaper, February 24, 2008; Carthage, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1206946/m1/56/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Sammy Brown Library.