Charity provides adaptive bikes, strollers to children with disabilities
GROVE CITY, Mercer County — Five children with disabilities from Butler County have a new way to move, courtesy of Variety the Children’s Charity, which presented adaptive bikes and strollers to them on Tuesday, April 22.
Families gathered at Midwestern Intermediate Unit 4 in Grove City for a presentation focusing on safety and featuring stories of other families that previously benefited from the programs. At Tuesday’s presentation, 13 adaptive bikes and four adaptive strollers were given to 15 children across Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties.
Variety CEO Tom Baker and program director Deanna Davis delivered the bikes to families.
“We want you to feel empowered to take this anywhere you want to — to a park, to grandma’s, camping, I hear so many cool things,” Davis said during the presentation. “I see people who are grateful for the places you can take them, same with the strollers. Those can go anywhere and everywhere.”
Outside of the “My Bike” and “My Stroller” programs, Variety also offers the “My Voice” program. The program provides children with communication disorders a restricted iPad with a communication app to serve as a communication device.
“I hear so many times that families don’t have a safe way to get their child out, so they either split up or they just don’t go,” Davis said. “They’re just in the house all the time.”
Tyler Wasko, 17, of Cranberry Township, is one of the five Butler County children to receive equipment at Tuesday’s event. His adaptive stroller is his second stroller from Variety; a necessary upgrade after outgrowing his last.
“This now, he’ll be able to fit in it right and he has a tray where he likes to eat,” Jay Wasko, Tyler’s father, said. “He already had a cookie and a drink so this will make it easier for him. The other one didn’t have that, so he had to hold it in his hand.”
“It’s wonderful,” Dawn Wasko, Tyler’s mother, added. “You can see that he’s happy with it.”
The adaptive bikes are made by Rifton, and feature an easy disassembly and reassembly process. They feature additional straps and rear wheel stands for stationary pedaling. The strollers are made by Convaid and feature additional straps and footrests.
After the presentation, workers from Blackburn’s Physicians Pharmacy demonstrated the features of the bike, gave some safety tips and adjusted the bike for each child.
Then, the children joined their parents for a short outdoor parade. Variety volunteers, parents and intermediate unit staff cheered for each child as they passed by.
Liam Eves, 12, of Lyndora, received his second adaptive bike after outgrowing his first. Natalie Eves, his mother, said the first bike was a significant boost to Liam and the family’s ability to get out of the house.
“We go up into Highfield, and we ride and jog around the neighborhood for a few hours,” Natalie Eves said. “Hang out at the playground, just chill for the day. That’s what we’re excited about the most.”
She said they will be trying new places to ride the bike soon, like Moraine State Park.
Wayde Killmeyer, executive director of the intermediate unit, thanked Variety for their support for children in the unit’s service area.
“We all work in education here at MIU4 and so we love what we do, we love coming to work everyday, but we especially love the day when Variety comes to hand out the equipment because this is what we live for,” Killmeyer said. “We get to see kids reaching their full potential and doing things that kids like to do, so thank you for being here.”
According to Variety, the charity has presented 474 adaptive bikes, strollers or communication devices out of the service area, with a total value of $752,000. Since the launch of the “My Bike” program in November 2012, over 8,400 pieces of equipment have been given to children by Variety.
Families interested in learning more about Variety’s programs can visit www.varietypittsburgh.org/applynow or call the office at 724-933-0460.
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Liam Eves, 12, of Lyndora is fitted for the adaptive bike he received during Variety the Children’s Charity's presentation of adaptive bikes and strollers to children from Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties at Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV in Grove City on Tuesday, April 22. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Liam Eves, 12, of Lyndora is fitted for the adaptive bike he received during Variety the Children’s Charity's presentation of adaptive bikes and strollers to children from Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties at Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV in Grove City on Tuesday, April 22. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Liam Eves, 12, of Lyndora tests out his new adaptive bike during Variety the Children’s Charity's presentation of adaptive bikes and strollers to children from Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties at Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV in Grove City on Tuesday, April 22. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Liam Eves, 12, of Lyndora is fitted for the adaptive bike he received during Variety the Children’s Charity's presentation of adaptive bikes and strollers to children from Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties at Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV in Grove City on Tuesday, April 22. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Liam Eves, 12, of Lyndora is fitted for the adaptive bike he received during Variety the Children’s Charity's presentation of adaptive bikes and strollers to children from Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties at Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV in Grove City on Tuesday, April 22. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Liam Eves, 12, of Lyndora is fitted for the adaptive bike he received during Variety the Children’s Charity's presentation of adaptive bikes and strollers to children from Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties at Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV in Grove City on Tuesday, April 22. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Liam Eves, 12, of Lyndora is fitted for the adaptive bike he received during Variety the Children’s Charity's presentation of adaptive bikes and strollers to children from Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties at Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV in Grove City on Tuesday, April 22. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Weston A., 8, of Sarver, tests out his new adaptive bike during Variety the Children’s Charity's presentation of adaptive bikes and strollers to children from Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties at Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV in Grove City on Tuesday, April 22. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
