Mentor Bikes to Raise Money for Program

MINNEAPOLIS - Kids ’n Kinship is a program providing children living in single parent homes with mentors. But the program is losing money due to the economy. But one mentor is doing his part to help. When it comes to life 16-year-old Dante Lundstrom wasn't dealt the greatest hand in the world.

But at age 11 the cards started turning around when John Elder became his mentor.

As a mentor, Elder taught Lundstrom the little things like cribbage but more importantly been their as a father figure helping him stay out of trouble.

"Without a father a lot of bad things can happen,” said Lundstrom. “A lot of kids end up wherever they are today and some end up in jail."

Once a week, the two hang out for three to four hours a day, talking and learning about life "They need role models in their lives they need to have some fun brought in and it can be a win, win," said Elder.

It is this experience that drove Elder to raise money for the Kids ’n Kinship Mentoring Program.

He's training for a 900-mile bike ride through three states to make sure every child waiting gets a mentor

The first year he raised $16,000. This year he hopes to bring in more then $25,000.

Jan Belmore says without the money the 60 plus kids waiting to be placed will wait even longer.

"We hope to get kids matched while it's still a preventive effort so that we can get them on the right track before heading down roads of trouble," said Belmore.

Ludstrom says he was lucky to catch on with such a great mentor.

Kids ‘n Kinship
www.kidsnkinship.org

Christian Elder Memorial 900
www.cem900.com