Bend third-grader earns ‘nine wheels’

When Owen Smith joined the before-school unicycle club at Pine Ridge Elementary in southwest Bend, the third-grader soon noticed something: There weren’t enough unicycles to go around.

Then he was given an assignment in writing class, and when he began, he knew exactly who to write about.

“We were doing someone who doesn’t get enough recognition,” Owen said. ” I chose Ms. Thomason, because she sets up all sorts of programs and people don’t usually thank her.”

After he wrote about his PE teacher, Carisa Thomason, his mom wanted to help thank her as well. The two set up a Go Fund Me online account to raise money for the club.

The goal was to earn enough money to buy one new unicycle.

“I said, ‘I could start a fundraiser for money for PE toys and unicycles,'” Owen said. “Then I went home and my Mom said, ‘We could start a fundraiser for that if you want.'”

Thomason was humbled by Owen’s gesture. She started the unicycle club for students through a grant she was awarded.

“I don’t always hear what kids think,” Thomason said. “They’re usually quiet and shy. They don’t always tell me what they think about PE, or how they feel about school. So it’s always surprising for me to hear, and flattering.”

As it turns out, the Go Fund Me account raised so much money that Owen was able to purchase nine brand new unicycles through Webcyclery in Bend.

“It was definitely much more of a success than we had even hoped ,” said Owen’s mother, Lisa Smith.