Children with special needs receive customized bikes
More than 100 children with special needs were fitted for bikes customized just for them at the annual Bike Day event Saturday at Corewell Health’s Center for Children’s Rehabilitation in Royal Oak.
Corewell Health is the new name for Beaumont Health.
The bikes — some of which are pedaled by hand — are not available at local shops or big box retailers and range in price from $1,300 to $5,000.
Titan Driscoll, 3, of Oak Park, was among those fitted this year. At birth, he was diagnosed with a rare chromosomal syndrome, Mosaic trisomy 9, which affects growth and developmental milestones such as crawling and walking.
“The day after Titan was born, a doctor handed me a pamphlet and told me these children often didn’t make it to the end of their first week. I cried,” said his mom, Denise Driscoll.
“But then I started seeing what a happy kid Titan was. I felt special and blessed — like God handpicked us to be Titan’s parents,” Denise said. “Titan is our superhero.”
She said Titan’s face lights up when they pull into the parking lot of the rehabilitation center. But riding his bicycle brings him even more joy and improves his self-esteem.
“When Titan sees the other kids riding, he wants that for himself,” his mom said. “We push him on his bike — but he also uses his own little muscles. Being on his bike makes him feel independent and proud.”
Since Titan’s already outgrown the bicycle he received last year, this year, vendors adjusted his bicycle to accommodate his growth.
Adrienne Akers, 10, of Chesterfield Township, who battles a seizure disorder and several other disabilities, is being fitted this year for her second bike.
“She smiles and laughs when she’s riding,” said mom, Kristine Akers, adding that Adrienne loves riding in the neighborhood with her sister.
“Her bicycle gives her a chance to get out of her wheelchair. You can see the mood change right away; that bike makes her a very happy girl.”
Like her peers, the benefits of riding her adaptive bike are also physical. Before receiving brain surgery last August, Adrienne experienced hundreds of seizures each day. Those have significantly subsided since the surgery.
She is still working to regain lost muscle tone. Riding her bicycle is a relaxed and natural way to do that, mom said.
“Going to physical therapy and working with the therapists is very beneficial,” Kristine said. “But Adrienne’s been in and out of hospitals so much, therapy still feels like a clinical experience. Riding her bike on the street with other kids — that’s fun. It’s freedom. Without this program, we wouldn’t be able to give her the kind of bicycle she needs. We’re so grateful she’s able to go outside and ride her bike just like every other kid.”
Bike Day is hosted and coordinated by therapists and support staff from the rehabilitation center who volunteer their time, said Ryan Barto, Bike Day coordinator, and senior pediatric occupational therapist.
At a cost of $200,000, this year’s Bike Day was funded by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals; the Corewell Health Foundation — Southeast Michigan, the new name for the Beaumont Health Foundation; Extra Life, which donated $100,000; and Delta Airlines, which donated $50,000; Jay Feldman and other sponsors.
In addition, Tubby’s Sub Shops donated 100 meals this year for Bike Day volunteers.
Participants are selected according to need and wait time. Each must have a prescription and be referred by their physician.
For more information about Bike Day or to make a donation, visit: https:// www.beaumont.org/services/childrens/special-rehabilitation-events/bikeday.