Princeton Academy Hosts Inaugural Bike Race Fundraiser

The students at Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart (PASH) strapped on their helmets and put the pedal to the metal in the School’s inaugural Tour de PASH mountain bike race on May 14.

About 25 students and a few teachers brought their bikes to school and participated in several heats divided up by fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades. Crowds of students gathered on the sidelines to cheer on their peers as they biked five laps that around the campus.

“It went really well; it was super fun seeing the kids out on their bikes and the campus just lent itself to the event,” said Princeton Academy science teacher Brent Deisher, who coordinated the event.

A former racer and seasoned club cyclist who done has many high profile races such as the Tour de Somerville and the Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hill Climb, Deisher came up with Tour de PASH as a fun way to raise money. The racers in addition to rest of the School all pitched in and donated money to benefit the Anchor House Foundation, which provides temporary housing in Trenton.

Deisher is a part of several cycle clubs in the Princeton area in addition to running his own Princeton Academy Summer Biking Camp.  He is currently training for more races and will soon be taking his bike, helmet and endurance to ride in the 500-mile Anchor House Ride, the 208-mile Longest Day Ride and the Dirty Dozen in Pittsburgh.

“My dream is to ride my bike all around the world,” added Deisher. “Kind of like Forrest Gump — but on a bike.”