You can participate in AngelRide 2010 to help raise money for The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp’s Hospital Outreach Program.
Or “Pedal-with-Pete” to raise funds for research to improve the quality of life for persons with cerebral palsy.
You can even help yourself to a healthier lifestyle by leaving the car at home May 17th through the 21st in honor of Bike to Work Week.
One amazing project that’s going on now and throughout the summer is “Lose the Training Wheels” – a nationwide program that helps kids with disabilities discover the independence, self-confidence, and pure joy of riding a bicycle.
Storybridge.tv features a Lose the Training Wheels Camp for Down Syndrome children.
Every week somewhere in the US, a truckload of specially adapted bicycles is unloaded by the LTTW staff and local volunteers. For the next five days, kids who until now have been unable to join in the most basic of childhood experiences are coached and cheered on until that perfect combination of momentum and balance is achieved. According to Executive Director Matt Hampton, “It’s like watching magic.”
Hampton was a finance guy in 2006 when he organized the first LTTW camp in Wichita, Kansas. During that week his 12-year-old son Jacob learned to ride a bike for the first time. That was it. By 2007, he was overseeing all camp operations, and is now the nonprofit’s Executive Director. Hampton loves to ride himself and appreciates what the skill gives to every kid. “There’s a feeling of accomplishment every time your ride a bike. It’s you, you’re powering it. It opens up a new world for these kids – the world of inclusion.”
He described a not-uncommon situation where kids will buy bikes and put them in their garage so others will think they can ride. A child will get out his or her bike and sit on it in the driveway watching other rides, pretending they can’t join in “right now.” They so want to be a part of the gang and the lack of this simple skill makes them feel even more isolated than any disability they have.
Hampton also pointed out that the confidence boost ripples across a child’s world. Most camps boast an 80% and higher success rate for children who have never been successful on a bike before. Teachers notice that schoolwork improves. Parents are aware of improved self-esteem and engagement with others. Learning to ride a bike gives a child freedom in so many ways.
But it ain’t free.
Each week-long camp for up to 40 kids costs about $12,000. Usually a local group does some fundraising and the participants pay a fee to particip
ate. So take a look at the schedule and see when LTTW is coming to your neck of the woods. A small donation from you could put a smile on a child’s face that will last a lifetime. Of course, you can support LTTW directly — organize a camp, volunteer, donate, and spread the word. Remember the first time your dad let go of your bike and you flew down the sidewalk? You can give that to a child. C’mon now. Whatcha waitin’ for?
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Tags: AngelRide 2010, community, National Bike Month, Pedal-With-Pete, volunteer
My son told me last night that they are having a bike rodeo. I was just trying to figure out where the rodeo clowns were going to be! He asked me if he could take the big boy bike. He is 4 but has been without training wheels right around the 3rd birthday. He loves his bike.
I love, love, loved my bike when I was a kid. It was white with a banana seat (!) and yes, it had those streamer things in blue and white. LOVED it. Just nothing better than cruisin’ the ‘hood on the mighty white bike! A bike rodeo sounds like a blast!!
Thanks for spreading the word about this interesting organization. We’ll fire off a tweet to help promote them.