Land Rover co-sponsors giveaway

Since 2004, Land Rover Las Vegas has teamed with ThinkFirst-Nevada, the local chapter of the National Injury Prevention Foundation, to reduce the number of debilitating head injuries suffered in bicycle, skateboarding and other accidents by donating helmets to Southern Nevada youth and their parents.

Debbie Kreun, ThinkFirst-Nevada president and state chapter director, estimates the partnership has yielded about 5,800 complimentary helmets through various events during the year, including 858 in the eight years since the first After Christmas Helmet Giveaway, which is held annually in January at Land Rover Las Vegas. This year's total was a record 184, topping the previous best of 178 from 2010. This year's giveaway was held Jan. 7.

Kreun says the total may exceed 200 once all the helmets are distributed. She said some of the children at the event were not able to be fitted with a properly sized helmet and will have to wait for additional helmets to arrive.

The importance of helmet safety was never more evident than this past September when Ray DiNardi, general manager at Land Rover Las Vegas, was in a bicycle crash. He sustained numerous injuries but none to his head. He was wearing a properly fitting helmet.

"It certainly has brought home the reality of what we do," Kreun said.

She uses the cracked and dented helmet to demonstrate how it possibly saved the wearer's life in safety presentations to local schoolchildren.

"It's a very strong visual for the high school students who think they're invincible," she said.

For the third straight year, the giveaway featured a BMX bike exhibition with ramps and stunt riders, including international superstar Ricardo Laguna. The event also featured a remote broadcast by 97.1 FM and The Spot to Eat provided dollar menu items with proceeds donated to ThinkFirst-Nevada.

Land Rover Las Vegas is located at 5255 W. Sahara Ave.