Craig Cooper, Bikes to You, Grinnell, explains the safety benefits to the 111 South Tama 3rd grade students who received free helmets last week. Chronicle photos/John Speer

Spring weather means bicycles will be out in full force. Grinnell Regional Medical Center once again has lead the distribution of bicycle helmets to more than 500 area third graders.

The GRMC medical staff along with GRMC, area businesses, and individuals demonstrated their commitment to head-injury prevention by teaming up to give a new bicycle helmet to each third grader in the GRMC service area. This year 544 helmets will be given away. Over the previous 17 years, over 4,880 students in the GRMC service area have received a free bike helmet.

At each distribution an educational program is presented to emphasize the importance of wearing a helmet and to teach bicycle safety. Children who use helmets as soon as they begin riding are more likely to continue that healthy behavior throughout their lifetime.

Helmets are given out in 12 school districts covering South Tama, Merskwaki Settlement School, East Marshall and Green Mountain Garwin (GMG).

Craig Cooper of Bikes to You, GRMC employees and medical staff will visit the schools and fit a helmet to each third-grade student as well as discuss the importance of preventing head injury.

Clayton Killian, is fitted with a new bicycle helmet on Tuesday, May 14, by Jerimi Kopsa, vice president of The State Bank of Toledo. The bank was one of the program sponsors.

Financial supporters of the bike helmet distribution raised more than $7,000 for the helmets. Among contributors, along with GRMC and the GRMC Medical staff, include, Alliant Energy, Garwin Ambulance Service, Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company, Denise Lamphier, Medicap Pharmacy, Laura Etta Metz and The State Bank of Toledo.