The gift of mobility
Children with disabilities overjoyed to get specialized bikes
Try as he might, Walter Gorny is not patient.
His feet have been adjusted on the pedals of his brand-new green bike, and his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles helmet has been fitted over his head of blond hair. It has a blue ribbon on it that ties in the back, just like Leonardo’s. He shakes his legs and fidgets with his chin strap. He’s ready to go. Walter, 8, is one of 11 children with a disability who received their first-ever bikes Wednesday at the Allegheny Health Network Wexford Health + Wellness Pavilion, a combined effort of the Allegheny Health Network, the children’s charity Variety and myriad sponsors who contributed to the cause.
Walter has autism. His parents, Jason and Stacy Gorny, said over and over again how grateful they were for the adaptive bicycle — they never thought they’d see him ride.
Variety is the organization that launched the “My Bike” program, which distributes adaptive bikes to children with mental and physical disabilities. Their top three, though, are autism, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome.
The “My Bike” program stretches across 22 counties in Western Pennsylvania and 10 counties in West Virginia, but it’s not Variety’s only focus. On Wednesday, it distributed five adaptive strollers to families of infants with disabilities. On Friday, it will give out communication devices for children who have never been able to speak.
Charlie LaVallee, Variety’s CEO, on Wednesday presented each of the children with their bikes, which stood in neat rows on either side of the podium in bright blue, green and raspberry shades. Each bike was topped with a large red bow and nameplate.
Mr. LaVallee’s presence was commanding and positive as he introduced partners, sponsors and kids, prompting enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Variety gave out 11 bikes Wednesday, but since November 2012, the organization has raised more than $2 million for adaptive bikes and handed out more than 850.
“When we started, we didn’t know if it would fly, but the community has embraced it,” Mr. LaVallee said. He added that there are actually 150 bikes right now that have already been sponsored; they’re just trying to find children to receive them.
A lot of parents don’t realize they’re eligible for an adaptive bike, Mr. LaVallee said, because they’re middle-class. However, Variety’s income guidelines are higher than average for assistance, reaching 400 percent above the federal poverty level. A family of four, then, would be eligible with a household income of $97,000.
Following the ceremony, the children — who were fitted for them earlier — got on their bicycles for the first time and waited while their parents received instructions on how to use them.
Each bike costs $1,800 to sponsor, largely because each one is customized to fit the child’s specific disabilities. All bikes have stationary brakes and handles at the back for the parent to push and control their child’s speed. Harnesses and seat belts keep the kids in place. Various other handles and levers are attached to bikes, depending on the child’s needs.
Walter followed the line of kids that had begun to filter away, pedaling through the pavilion. He was second-to-last to leave but caught up quickly with the others.
“He wants to go,” his father said, all smiles.
Kids pedaled by in a single-line parade, some weakly because their leg muscles weren’t strong enough. One wore ankle braces. Some were pushed by their parents or by their siblings.
At the front of the procession was a young girl named Reese, riding a blue bike. She has Periventricular Leukomalcia, a brain disorder. She turned 9 on Wednesday, so she got to be the parade leader.
Later, parents tried to fit the large bicycles in their trunks for the ride home. Several wheels hung out of trunks clamped shut with bungee cords.
Walter has big plans for tomorrow, Mr. Gorny said.
“We’re taking him to Highland Park,” he said, “And he’s going to ride until his legs fall off.”