Breakstone, White & Gluck Partners With Schools During 2016 Project KidSafe Campaign

As part of our commitment to keep children safe, Breakstone, White & Gluck donated bicycle helmets to several schools and safety programs during our 2016 Project KidSafe campaign. We made donations to schools in the Boston area and across the state.

We made our largest donation of 400 helmets to Massachusetts Safe Routes to School, which works with schools, communities, students and families to increase biking and walking among elementary and middle school students. Safe Routes to School offers safety education and organizes bicycle rodeos in more than 50 percent of communities in Massachusetts.

This is the second year our law firm has partnered with Safe Routes to School. In 2016, Breakstone, White & Gluck donated helmets to support Safe Routes to School’s work at schools, including:

  • Brayton Elementary School in North Adams
  • Arlington Elementary School in Lawrence
  • Gibbons Elementary in Stoughton

Last Spring, Massachusetts Safe Routes to School also gave out helmets from our Project KidSafe campaign at a bike rodeo at the South Boston Neighborhood House. Attorney David W. White fit helmets for the kids and participated:

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Left: Attorney White with Moss Lynch and Jana Linhart of Massachusetts Safe Routes to School, Maren Tober of South Boston Healthy Community Champions and Mary Picard Walsh from the South Boston Neighborhood House. Next: Attorney White helping a young cyclist. Next: Group shot of kids with Jana Linhart, Safe Routes to School outreach coordinator and Attorney White. Last: Young cyclist takes to the obstacle course.

In 2015, Breakstone, White & Gluck donated helmets to support Safe Routes to School’s work at:

  • Lawrence Bike Program, Lawrence
  • Avon Bike Rodeo, Avon
  • Reingold School Bike Rodeo, Fitchburg
  • Bike & Trike Parade, Salem
  • Newman School Festival, Needham
  • Greenfield Bike Rodeo at Greenfield Middle School, Greenfield
  • Salem Farmers’ Market, Salem
  • Milton Rodeo at Pierce Middle School, Milton
  • Williams Elementary Bike Rodeo, Pittsfield
  • Ciclovia, Lawrence
  • Springfield Library Bike Rodeo, Springfield
  • Foncesca Bike Summer Session, Fall River

Other Donations to Schools
Through our Project KidSafe campaign, Breakstone, White & Gluck has donated over 10,000 helmets to children in Boston and across Massachusetts since 2013. Our other donations to schools and education centers during our 2016 campaign include:

Somerville Public Schools and CYCLE Kids
In Somerville, we donated 300 helmets to Somerville Public Schools and CYCLE Kids. The helmets were given to fifth graders who completed the CYCLE Kids curriculum as part of their physical education classes. The curriculum teaches students how to ride a bicycle, bicycle safety and nutrition basics. This is the third year we have made this donation. Attorney Marc L. Breakstone joined Somerville Police Officer Marianne Manfra, Physical Education Teacher Kris Savage in handing out the helmets to students at the Dr. Albert F. Argenziano School last June. Read our blog.

Arlington Public Schools

In Arlington, we made a donation to the Arlington Public Schools for the third year. We donated 170 helmets to support the Walk to School Day events for elementary school students. These events focus on encouraging children to safely walk and ride bicycles to school. Our Project KidSafe bicycle helmets were donated to children who needed one during these events. The donation was coordinated through the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee.

Joseph M. Tierney Learning Center
For the second year, Breakstone White & Gluck donated bicycle helmets to the Joseph M. Tierney Learning Center in South Boston. Attorney David W. White fit helmets for the children at the center’s summer party in July.

A boy receiving a new bicycle helmet. 20160707-IMG_1261 20160707-IMG_1351 20160707-IMG_1242  Attorney David White with a young cyclist in South Boston. 20160707-IMG_1293

Haynes Early Education Center
In Roxbury, we donated 75 helmets to the Haynes Early Education Center, which is part of the Boston public school system. The school gave the helmets to children who needed one at its Healthy Families Event. Read our blog.

Photos: Arlington Public Schools left, then the Haynes Early Education Center.

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Easthampton Healthy Youth Coalition and Easthampton Public Schools
In Easthampton, we donated 140 bicycle helmets to children at the Event to Celebrate Bike Safety in May. The event was sponsored by the Easthampton Healthy Youth Coalition, Easthampton Police, Easthampton Public Schools and the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office. Attorney David W. White attended to help fit helmets for the children. Read our blog.

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Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates 100 Bicycle Helmets to The Home for Little Wanderers

Home for Little Wanderers, Boston, Massachusetts

With a donation from Breakstone, White & Gluck’s Project KidSafe campaign, children at The Home for Little Wanderers are ready for safe riding.

We made a special donation of 100 bicycle helmets to The Home this week, for children and young adults in The Home’s residential and special education programs in Roxbury Crossing, Plymouth and Walpole. The Home serves children and young adults who need family support because of abuse, neglect or other reasons. For more than 200 years, it has filled a critical need in the Boston area, keeping children safe and helping them transition into foster care, adoption or independent living as adults. The Home provides the basic necessities of food, shelter and clothing for children, as well as mental health services, counseling, special education and many other services.

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Photo:  Attorney David White stopped at The Home for Little Wanderers this week and delivered bicycle helmets from Breakstone, White & Gluck’s Project KidSafe campaign. He was greeted by (left) Paige Oldaker, Leadership Gifts Officer; Johanna Lauer, Volunteer Mentor; and Taryn Marino, Manager of Volunteer and Mentor Programs. (next to David).

Breakstone, White & Gluck is committed to keeping children safe through our Project KidSafe campaign. Since 2013, our law firm has donated over 10,000 bicycle helmets to children who need one in Massachusetts. Our goal is to encourage children to wear bicycle helmets every time they ride to prevent serious head injuries in bicycle accidents or falls.

We learned about The Home’s need for new helmets from a volunteer. She told us children at The Harrington House in Roxbury Crossing were wearing old and worn-down helmets. Then we learned about the need at the other programs and were told the children and young adults love to ride bikes. We saw an opportunity to help.

“We were very pleased to make this donation, especially since the children really enjoy riding bikes,” Attorney David White said. “The Home for Little Wanderers is a lifeline for many children who have been neglected or abused in Massachusetts. While receiving services, the children should have the opportunity to ride bicycles, play and just be kids for a few minutes each day. We hope with brand-new bicycle helmets, they can ride safely and have a little fun.”

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Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates Bicycle Helmets to Bikes Not Bombs’ Youth Cycling Program

Breakstone, White & Gluck, a longtime supporter of Bikes Not Bombs, was pleased to partner up with the organization again this year, by donating bicycle helmets to the Girls In Action Program. Attorney David White recently attended the graduation ceremony.

Bikes Not Bombs is based in Jamaica Plain and has two popular youth programs: Earn-A-Bike and Girls In Action. Both are terrific programs, which give children and teenagers a chance to learn bike repair, bike safety skills and make friends. At the beginning of class, the youth get to help select parts for a bike they will help build, eventually “earn” and get to take home.

Photo courtesy: Bikes Not Bombs.

Photo courtesy: Bikes Not Bombs

During the class, students are taught the rules of the road and to always wear a bicycle helmet. They get plenty of practice, taking group rides in the city. They are shown how to travel on bike lanes and navigate park and other areas. Earn-A-Bike is a co-ed program while Girls In Action is open to girls ages 12-18 and includes some field trips and activities outside the bike shop.

Bikes Not Bombs Safety Video
One of the Girls In Action programs created a safety video a few years ago. The first topic was bicycle helmet safety and the importance of wearing one every time you ride. Watch.

About Bikes Not Bombs

Bikes Not Bombs works locally and internationally, founded in 1984 as a response to the United States military backing of the Contra attacks on Nicaragua. The organization believes in using the bicycle as a vehicle for social change and each year, collects roughly 6,000 used bicycles and tons of parts from supporters in Boston and New England.

Some of the bicycles are used in its youth programming. But many bikes are sent to partner groups in other countries where a bicycle can increase access to economic opportunity, education, health care, and civic engagement. Bikes Not Bombs was founded in 1984 and has since shipped over 55,000 bicycles to partner groups in 14 countries in the Global South.

Breakstone, White & Gluck and Bicycle Safety
The law firm of Breakstone, White & Gluck actively supports youth cycling safety in Massachusetts. Through our Project KidSafe campaign, Breakstone, White & Gluck has donated over 10,000 bicycle helmets to children who need one since 2013. If you are a cyclist, please remember to wear your bicycle helmet every time you ride. Here is a helpful video on how to properly fit your helmet.

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Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates 120 Children’s Bicycle Helmets to Dedham Police and Dedham Bike Rodeo

Breakstone, White & Gluck was pleased to donate 120 children’s bicycle helmets to the Dedham Police Department and the Dedham Bike Rodeo this year. This was our fourth year participating  in the rodeo and Attorney Reza Breakstone was on hand to fit children for new helmets and answer questions about bicycle safety.

20160727-P1130939The Dedham Police Department and the Dedham Parks & Recreation Department organize the annual rodeo, which is always held at the Endicott Estate. We always expect warm weather, but this year was especially hot and we were worried children may not come out. There was no cause for concern. We still had many parents and grandparents bring children, and children from local childcare programs stop in. Attorney Breakstone still fit about 75 children ages 4 to 10 for new bicycle helmets. Dedham police officers will give the rest to children who need one.

Breakstone, White & Gluck donated the bicycle helmets through our Project KidSafe campaign, which has now donated over 10,000 helmets to children in eastern Massachusetts. We started our safety campaign in 2013. The Dedham Bike Rodeo was one of our first events and it is always rewarding to return each year.

bike-safety-pageHow to Fit Your Child’s Bicycle Helmet
If you or your child need help fitting a helmet, we want to share this video. Putting a bicycle helmet on your child is a critical step in protecting them from a serious head injury. By wearing a helmet, cyclists reduce their chance for head injury by 50 percent, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Other studies have shown it provides even more protection so it is important for all cyclists to wear one, every time they ride. Read More

Bicycle Helmet Giveaway at the Joseph M. Tierney Learning Center in South Boston

Attorney David White visited the Joseph M. Tierney Learning Center in South Boston on July 7th and fit over 60 children and teenagers for brand-new bicycle helmets donated by Breakstone, White & Gluck’s Project KidSafe campaign. We set up our Project KidSafe tent as part of the center’s summer party, which was a lot of fun, with a DJ playing music, water balloon tosses and other summer games.

This is the second year Breakstone, White & Gluck has donated bicycle helmets to families served by the Tierney Center, which provides educational support and programming to youth and families in South Boston. The center’s goal is to leverage its neighborhood resources to ensure that each individual who walks through its doors has the tools to achieve his or her highest potential both in the classroom and within the community. To that end, it works with more than 30 other Boston agencies to bring resources to its residents. Nearly 60 percent of the households served by the center are non-native English speakers and 90 percent are single-parent households.

Boys wearing bicycle helmets at Tierney Center in South Boston

A boy receiving a new bicycle helmet.

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Attorney David White with a young cyclist in South Boston.

A child riding a bicycle wearing a bicycle helmet.

Attorney David White and Claire Kaiser, with the Joseph M. Tierney Learning Center in South Boston

Claire Kaiser, the teen programs coordinator for the Tierney Learning Center and Attorney David White of Breakstone, White & Gluck.

To learn more about bicycle safety, fitting a helmet and the laws in Massachusetts, visit our bike safety page.

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Project KidSafe Update: Breakstone, White & Gluck Supports Ashland Farmers Market and Tewksbury Police

Child riding a bicycle and wearing a bicycle helmet in Tewksbury, Massachusetts

Our Project KidSafe campaign recently stopped in Ashland and Tewksbury, to donate bicycle helmets to kids at fun events geared toward safety.

On June 5th, the Tewksbury Police Department hosted its Annual Bike Safety Rodeo at Tewksbury Memorial High School. Children came out to ride despite some rain early in the morning. They circled the parking lot, ran an obstacle course and enjoyed time with other kids – and the Lowell Spinners mascot, Canaligator. Cyclists of all ages were offered free bicycle safety inspections.

Children who needed a new helmet were offered one from Breakstone, White & Gluck and the Project KidSafe campaign. Tewksbury police officers partnered with us on the donation and  fit the helmets for the kids.

“Please thank the attorneys for us for helping to keep our community safe!” Tewksbury police wrote us.

The Tewksbury Police Department actively works to protect cyclists of all ages with an annual Helmet Reward program. If an officer spots you riding a bicycle and wearing a helmet, you may just win tickets to a Lowell Spinners game. Local businesses provide support for the initiative.

Wearing a bicycle helmet is required for riders 16 years old or younger in Massachusetts, but it is good practice for anyone riding a bicycle. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, wearing a bicycle helmet can reduce the risk for a serious head injury by 50 percent. Other studies have reported it offers even more protection.

child wearing a bicycle helmet at the Ashland Farmers MarketOn June 18th, the Ashland Farmers Market celebrated its 5th anniversary. Breakstone, White & Gluck donated 75 children’s bicycle helmets for the event. We thank students and members of the community who took time to distribute and fit helmets for the kids.

The Ashland Farmers Market is organized by volunteers, with a goal of providing local farmers and small businesses a venue to sell goods to the community. Visitors can get produce and food there, as well as nutrition tips and suggestions on environmentally friendly practices for home and commuting. The committee has made bicycle safety a priority and this is the third year we have donated bicycle helmets.

About Project KidSafe
Breakstone, White & Gluck has donated over 10,000 bicycle helmets to children in Massachusetts through our Project KidSafe campaign. We launched our campaign in 2013, with a simple goal: to help children ride safely and prevent head injuries. This year, we are proud to donate helmets to children at community events in Boston, Cambridge, Arlington, Somerville, Dedham, Worcester and other communities. We are also making donations to more than 10 local police departments.

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Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates 300 Bicycle Helmets to Help Somerville Students Ride Safe

Attorney Marc Breakstone visited Somerville yesterday to help distribute new bicycle helmets to fifth-graders. But first he wanted to talk about their commitment to bicycle safety. “Is everyone ready to take a pledge?” he asked.

Click the video to watch:

For the third year, Breakstone, White & Gluck was pleased to donate 300 bicycle helmets to fifth graders in Somerville schools who completed the CYCLE Kids curriculum, which teaches bicycle riding and safety. Attorney Breakstone visited with about 60 students at the Dr. Albert F. Argenziano School at Lincoln Park and helped hand out the new bicycle helmets and certificates of completion for the CYCLE Kids training program.

Breakstone, White & Gluck is committed to helping children ride bicycles safely. Since 2013, we have donated over 10,000 bicycle helmets as part of our Project KidSafe campaign. Every year has brought a donation in Somerville, which actively promotes bicycle safety for children, through the schools, dedicated school resource officers and community organizations which promote safety events.

Our goal is simple: to encourage children to wear helmets and prevent head injuries in falls and bicycle accidents. Massachusetts law requires cyclists who are 16 years old and younger to wear bicycle helmets, though it is recommended for cyclists of all ages.

CYCLE Kids is a Cambridge non-profit organization which provides bicycle safety and nutrition curriculum for schools across the country. Locally, Cambridge and Somerville schools teach the curriculum in physical education classes.somerville-cyclekids-2016

Attorney Marc Breakstone with the fifth-graders from the Dr. Albert F. Argenziano School in Somerville. 

The Somerville fifth graders who completed the CYCLE Kids curriculum learned how to ride a bicycle, safety skills such as wearing a helmet and using hand signals and nutrition fundamentals. Students are also encouraged to share their experience – and any fears they have – through essay writing.

“It can be scary for the kids who don’t know how to ride,” physical education Kris Savage said. “It is a brave thing for them to ride in front of their peers.”

Breakstone, White & Gluck coordinated the donation with CYCLE Kids, Somerville Public Schools and Somerville Police Officer Marianne Manfra. Attorney Breakstone, Officer Manfra and Kris Savage, physical education teacher at the Argenziano School, handed out the new Project KidSafe bike helmets to the children.

This year, we learned one of the fifth-graders who received a new bicycle helmet had taken his own steps for bike safety for his school and classmates. Caleb Piehl won the Saris National Bicycle Poster Contest last fall. As part of his prize, he won a trip to the National Bike Summit in Washington D.C. in March, a new Scwhinn bicycle, safety gear and a great prize for the school: a new 20-rack bicycle parking system that can track users’ mileage.

About Breakstone, White & Gluck
Breakstone, White & Gluck is a Boston personal injury law firm which is committed to the safety of all bicyclists in Massachusetts. We have over 100 years combined experience representing bicyclists injured by the negligence of others. If you, or a member of your family, has been injured in a bicycle incident, please feel free to contact us for a free legal consultation at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form. Thank you and RIDE SAFE!

 

Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates 100 Children’s Bicycle Helmets to Norwood Police, Norwood Bike Safety Day

With a donation from Breakstone, White & Gluck, Norwood Police distributed free bicycle helmets to children who needed one at Norwood Bike Safety Day over the weekend.

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Attorney David W. White with Norwood Police Chief William G. Brooks III and Officer Paul Murphy. Photo courtesy: @ChiefBrooksNPD.

This is the second year Breakstone, White & Gluck has donated helmets for distribution on Bike Safety Day, which was held at the Balch Elementary School. Bike Safety Day was organized by the Norwood Police Department and the Norwood Bike Depot, a local bicycle shop. Norwood Police school resource officers and the Mountain Bicycle Unit were out to meet the community.

Parents and children had the opportunity to learn how to fit a bicycle helmet directly from police officers. Bicycle safety inspections were also offered for all ages.

Breakstone, White & Gluck donated the bicycle helmets as part of our Project KidSafe campaign, which has donated over 10,000 bicycle helmets in eastern Massachusetts. We launched our campaign in 2013, with a simple goal: to help children ride their bicycles safely and to prevent head injuries.

In Massachusetts, cyclists 16 years old and younger are required to wear a bicycle helmet. By wearing a helmet, cyclists can reduce their chance for head injury by 50 percent, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Yet many cyclists still do not wear helmets.

Breakstone, White & Gluck will make several bicycle helmet donations to local police departments this year. In recent weeks, we have made donations to the Cambridge Police Department as well as the Boston Police Department and others. These are important partnerships because local police departments regularly encounter children who are riding without helmets. By donating a bicycle helmet, we hope to encourage safe riding and create an opportunity for a positive interaction between police and youth.

Bicycle Safety Resources for Parents

bike-safety-pageWe invite you to visit our website and view our bike safety page. There is a video on how to properly fit a bicycle helmet as well as articles on cyclists’ rights in Massachusetts and understanding how car insurance impacts cyclists.

About Breakstone, White & Gluck
Breakstone, White & Gluck is a Boston personal injury law firm which is committed to the safety of all bicyclists in Massachusetts. We have over 100 years combined experience representing bicyclists injured by the negligence of others. If you, or a member of your family, has been injured in a bicycle incident, please feel free to contact us for a free legal consultation at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form. Thank you and RIDE SAFE!

Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates Children’s Bicycle Helmets for Lexington Bike Walk ‘n Bus Week

Cyclists of all ages came out strong for Lexington’s Bike Walk ‘n Bus Week in May. Breakstone, White & Gluck was pleased to donate bicycle helmets to children who needed one at events such as the Bike Smart Class for fourth- and fifth-graders and the Bike Art Contest. With each helmet given, children and parents were shown how to properly fit them on their own.

We are also happy to see these two little cyclists stopped by for a Project KidSafe helmet. Thanks ArtsOffRoad Lexington for sending along the photos.

Child wearing a bicycle helmet.

Photos courtesy: ArtsOffRoad Lexington.

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Bike Walk ‘n Bus Week was held from May 14-22 and coincided with Bay State Bike Week. While the rest of the state celebrated cycling, Lexington focused on bicycling, walking and encouraging use of alternate transportation, such as buses.

The organizers were the Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee, Greenways Corridor and Massachusetts Safe Routes to School. Events included breakfasts, bike rides, a bike parade and bike maintenance workshops.

There are two active committees representing cyclists in Lexington: the Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee and the Friends of Lexington Bikeways, which coordinated the bicycle helmet donation from Breakstone, White & Gluck. Because of their work and the strong local interest in cycling, Lexington was named a bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Cyclists in 2015.

Breakstone, White & Gluck donated 140 bicycle helmets in Lexington this Spring. It is the third year we have made a donation and it is nice to see the community’s interest. In addition to Bike Walk ‘n Bus Walk Week, Lexington Police gave out bike helmets at Discovery Day on May 28th and showed children and families how to properly fit them.

Breakstone, White & Gluck donated the bicycle helmets as part of our Project KidSafe campaign. Since 2013, we have donated more than 10,000 bicycle helmets to help children prevent head injuries and ride their bicycles safely.

Read about our past events and donations here.

Visit this page to view bicycle safety resources.

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Breakstone, White & Gluck Donates Bicycle Helmets to Kids in Easthampton

Breakstone, White & Gluck was pleased to donate 140 bicycle helmets to children in Easthampton yesterday, with help from many hands in the community who care about bicycle safety.

We donated the helmets through our Project KidSafe campaign at an “Event to Celebrate Bike Safety in Easthampton,” organized by the Easthampton Healthy Youth Coalition, the Easthampton Public Schools, the Easthampton Police Department and Northwest District Attorney David E. Sullivan’s office.

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Photo: School Resource Officer Alan Schadel; Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan; Stephen Linsky and Ruth Ever of the Easthampton Healthy Youth Coalition; Attorney David W. White of Breakstone, White & Gluck and from the schools, Nancy Follansbee, Superintendent of Easthampton Schools; Judy Averill; Maple School Principal, Allison Rebello, Principal of Center and Pepin elementary schools; Andrea McCallum, Assistant Principal at Center Elementary School.

The children who received the helmets attend elementary school. In some cases, school administrators selected students who rode bikes and had no access to a safe helmet. But for the most part, children were sent home from school with a flyer and given the opportunity to sign up for a free bicycle helmet raffle.

Children and parents showed up together yesterday at the Easthampton Public Safety Complex. Some of the families came in on the Manhan Rail Trail, a six-mile cycling path which runs through Easthampton and stops at the building.

Attorney David White and School Resource Officer Alan Schadel fit the helmets for the kids. It was a great event because the children and parents were so interested in learning about the proper way to fit a helmet. The Easthampton Healthy Youth Coalition offered kids reflectors and other safety accessories to ride safely.

Breakstone, White & Gluck is now in our fourth year of the Project KidSafe campaign and has donated over 10,000 bicycle helmets to children in Massachusetts. Our goal is to keep children safe and prevent traumatic brain injuries from bicycle accidents. Cyclists of all ages can help protect themselves by wearing a helmet which properly fits, every time they ride. By wearing a helmet, cyclists reduce their chance for head injury by 50 percent, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

For help fitting a bicycle helmet, watch the video on our website: www.bwglaw.com/project-kidsafe/.

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Breakstone, White & Gluck donated 140 of these bicycle helmets to children in the Easthampton public schools.

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Attorney David White getting the kids excited about riding their bicycles, safely. He asked each child to promise to wear their helmet every time they ride.

easthampton-instagram-1.jpgAttorney David White and a young cyclist who received a bicycle helmet.

20160509-IMG_9035-2.jpgEasthampton School Resource Officer Alan Schadel helps a child with his new bicycle helmet.

20160509-_MG_8912.jpgChildren who needed a helmet signed these flyers to enter a raffle.

About Breakstone, White & Gluck
Breakstone, White & Gluck is a Boston personal injury law firm which is committed to the safety of all bicyclists in Massachusetts. We have over 100 years combined experience representing bicyclists injured by the negligence of others. If you, or a member of your family, has been injured in a bicycle incident, please feel free to contact us for a free legal consultation at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form. Thank you and RIDE SAFE!