Great American Bike Race | Video

Michelle San Miguel | 4/9/2011

Christmas came early for many kids around North Dakota. The 15th annual Great American Bike Race was held at Century High and some 1,300 riders raced on stationary bikes to raise money for children with cerebral palsy and other related conditions.

Kenley Schneider was born with cerebral palsy. This summer she`ll be undergoing a surgery that will help alleviate some of the symptoms of the disorder. Events like the Great American Bike Race help Kenley`s family pay for the costs. And they`ve gotten used to the ride. It`s their third year riding in the race.

"We look forward to it," said Melissa Schenider, Kenley`s mom. "It`s like a holiday at our house. We started right at the beginning of the year and start planning."

Riders pedal for 20 minutes straight while team members cool them down. But it`s more than just a bike race. The event has helped Kenley`s family pay for thousands of dollars worth of bills, from covering her travel expenses to Minneapolis to paying for her physical treatments.

"It helps us with money so we can pay medical bills that come in," said seven-year-old Kenley Schenider.

"One of the big reasons we`re riding for Kenley this year- she`s having a surgery this summer and so we really wanted to raise a lot of money for the event but also to show her that we really want to support her and her surgery this summer," said Rob Swiers, Kenley`s uncle.

Kenley may only be seven years old, but she realizes how much the Great American Bike Race has helped her, like by paying for her orthotic brace.

"It stretches my legs during the day so my legs won`t get so tight," said Kenley.

Melanie Carvell, the co-director of the Great American Bike Race, said, "When you have a child that has a disability, we all know that it adds up."

And that`s why year after year, Kenley`s family and friends take turns pedaling on the bicycles.

The Great American Bike Race has raised more than a million dollars since it began. Carvell said the reason it`s grown so much over the years is because the families that have benefited from the proceeds come back to help out at the race.

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