Sharrell Washington, age 7, was fitted for a free helmet. (Photo by Susan Borges Vliet)

One hundred Milwaukee children received free bike helmets recently at an open house at COA Goldin Center, 2320 W. Burleigh St. The event was part of the Habush Habush & Rottier Charitable Foundation’s statewide helmet donation tour to promote biking safety. Researchers have found that wearing a helmet can reduce the severity of brain injury by as much as 88 percent.

Since 1999, the Habush firm’s charitable funds have distributed more than 81,500 bicycle helmets to children throughout Wisconsin. Most of the helmets are distributed at bike safety rodeos and summer safety programs run by police departments and community organizations.