Smiling Through A Mask
A SMILE can still shine bright through a mask, and we are so grateful for it!
As Variety keeps making an impact for kids with disabilities during the pandemic, we wanted to share a few smiles and stories with you. We hope you enjoy and can smile along with us.
MAKING JAYCEE’S HEART HAPPY
When 9-year old Jaycee received her new adaptive bike at PlayWorks in Morgantown, WV, she looked at me and exclaimed,
“Yellow makes my heart happy. Yellow is like sunshine to me.”
Talk about getting to the heart of it with a few words!
VICTORIA & BROOKLYN CIRCLING THE HAND SANITIZER!
When 7-year old Victoria came to receive her new PINK adaptive bike, she didn’t know that she would also leave with a new friend in 7-year old Brooklyn.
Both girls received their new pink bikes at Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 recently, and they bonded with joy over riding their new bikes through the hand sanitizer station… just kids, being kids.
Victoria’s mom Cassondra described how this bike would make a difference,
“Having an adaptive bike for Victoria would mean so much because she tries so hard to ride a standard bike, but she doesn’t have the muscle control to keep her feet on the pedals.
She also doesn’t have the balance to keep the bike from tipping over on turns.
Pedaling a bike would be great therapy for her legs.
We have been trying to ride a standard bike since she was 3 and just can’t get it.
Victoria would be so excited to finally be able to ride with her friends!”
Brooklyn’s mom Christina shared why this bike would be transformative,
“An adaptive bike would mean the world to Brooklynn.
It would allow her to better keep up with her peers, and most importantly, with her older brother and sister.
In the summer, we take our children to a campsite at the beach, and all the children ride their bicycles over the campground’s flat paved paths. Brooklynn always wants to participate in this activity with her brother and sister, but because of her difficulties, she always ends up opting to stay back on site with apparent feeling ‘left out’.
Often her brother and sister will opt to stay back with her as they feel sorry for her.
I think an adaptive bike can help level the playing field for her, and in turn, will allow her to participate in activities with her family and friends.”