|
Father begins BMX club for his son after mother passes away
August 14, 2007
Sometimes the best ideas stem out of tragedy.
For Cole Bradley this was the case, after his wife died Bradley saw that his son was not himself and wanted to do something to get him back to the son he knew prior to losing his mother.
He was not like himself, Bradley said. His grades dropped and he was just not the same person he had been.
Bradley said it was then that his son discovered BMX racing.
Once he started to really get into it he changed, Bradley said. He was happier and he liked to be around the sport and always wanted to be out on the track racing.
From his sons love of the sport Bradley decided he wanted to form his own team and get more kids involved in the sport.
I broke my hand around the time my wife died and I couldn’t work, Bradley said. Then I had the idea to start the team. I have always wanted to work with kids.
The idea that he came up with has blossomed into the Extreme Strength BMX -- Team Extreme of Klamath Falls.
The team works with Integral Youth Services, Child Development, the Juvenile Authorities and others to give children an alternative to drugs, alcohol, gangs and the street.
Bradley said that was his intent from the moment he came up with the idea for the team.
I wanted to keep kids off the street and give them something constructive to do, Bradley said. We want to teach them how to work hard and they are learning something they might be able to put to use later in life when we teach them how to work on bikes.
To become a member of the team children must be under 18 and they have to sign a code of conduct with their parents.
The code of conduct is meant to teach the children to respect their elders, both on and off the track. They also have to maintain good grades and cannot be involved in any drugs or alcohol.
Violations to the code are handled on a case-by-case basis. Bradley said there is a zero-tolerance policy to the use of drugs and alcohol.
BMX is not a cheap sport to get into. Bradley estimates that the cost for members can be up to $1500.
The team has some corporate BMX sponsors that have given them cheaper rates on some of the things required to start the team. While the team has the bikes and most of things they need the other thing they are looking to get now is uniforms and gloves.
- By Ross L. Timbrook
|