Autumn Receives Specialized Bike at Spirits of Spring

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Five-year-old Autumn received her new specialized bike at last year’s Sprits of Spring event in Marion, IA and has enjoyed riding her bike and gaining strength over the last year!

Her mom shared this update with us: “Our daughter Autumn was given the honor to be the recipient of an amazing gift during last year's Spirits of Spring event. Variety – the Children's Charity customized this bicycle to our daughter’s EVERY need! Variety welcomed our family and invited us to this beautiful event where our child was presented with her new ride. The event was filled with loving, caring and kind people.

Autumn was born at 23 weeks gestation and suffered a grade four brain bleed. She was later was diagnosed with quadriplegic cerebral palsy, epilepsy, intellectual disability, and much more. Autumn has shown so much improvement in her balance and stiffness of her legs within the first six months of riding her adaptive bicycle. To her, this bicycle is a fun toy, but it’s also helping her strengthen her muscles and improve her coordination. Her legs get stiff due to her cerebral palsy, but by riding her bike she can exercise and stretch them while enjoying the outdoors with her sisters. She is also now able to maintain balance on toys like a rocking horse or a rocking chair. The joy of seeing her able to play with her sisters outside is such a blessing - we can’t thank Variety enough for this bike! The impact this amazing adaptive bike has had on our daughter's life is limitless and we look forward to seeing how much more her physical strength grows as she continues to ride!”

Variety helps children living with special needs gain mobility, confidence, freedom, independence, and the chance to join in the life of their community by providing funding for specialized bicycles, gait trainers, standers, mobile standers, specialized strollers, and more to families in need. What started as a program offering specialized bikes has expanded to fit the growing needs of children in our communities.

In addition to seeing the smiles on children’s faces, these mobility pieces offer both physical and therapeutic benefits. Unfortunately, these items are cost prohibitive to some families and are rarely covered by insurance. That’s why we work with physical therapists throughout the state to identify children who would greatly benefit from a specialized bike or other piece of mobility equipment.

This year's Spirits of Spring event will once again feature a specialized bike presentation to a child living with special needs. Purchase your tickets today to join us on April 11 to witness this special joy and raise funds to help more children like Autumn!

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