|
7.17.06: When is 2 Greater
than 4? Only at the Lose The Training Wheels
Bike Clinic!
During the week
of June 12-16, a combination sponsored bike
camp was held at West County Christian Church
for 35 kids with Down Syndrome and other disabilities.
The kids worked through a series of customized
bikes to discover the miracle of balance and
by the end of the week they were up and riding
on their own two wheels.
The clinic started with 35
kids spread out over five sessions with each
session being 75 minutes long. On Day One
the kids spent the first couple minutes of
their session getting to know the facilities,
the clinic director (Tammy Lloyd), the floor
director (Sharon Colantonio) and the volunteer
spotters who would be working with them throughout
the week. Then each child was measured so
a proper fitting bike could be established.
As the riders became comfortable
with riding the modified bike they were encouraged
to increase their speed and taught to turn
with their arms and not their shoulders. Each
rider then progressed from a fairly flat,
stable roller through more tapered rollers
that allowed the bike to tip more and more.
When the rider was able to maintain balance
on the most tapered roller, then they were
put on a bike with a regular back wheel and
a heavy front wheel. The heavy wheel provided
momentum through centrifugal force and whether
the rider knew it or not, they were riding
a bike!
After working on the necessity
of braking, the rider was able to move outside
to the very large, open parking lot. This
is where the riders felt the freedom of riding
a bike (and the spotters felt the burn in
their muscles from sprinting behind a bike).
While each rider progressed at their own pace,
each rider did learn to ride on just two wheels.
So, for this group of kids
..2 is Greater than 4
Thank you to all of our sponsors
and volunteers! This clinic would not have
been possible without you. There are a few
special people that need to be acknowledged.
First is Gretchen Montgomery who brought the
entire idea to the DSAGSL and then did everything
to make this clinic happen. Then when she
needed a little extra help to get things completed,
she did what every smart-thinking person would
do: Ask mom and dad for help. Gretchen?s parents,
Fred and Jo Ellen White, were also a big part
of making this clinic a success. Not only
did they donate the water and many of our
supplies, but they were also there everyday
running behind bicycles from start to finish.
Of course we cannot forget the generosity
of the Pujols Family Foundation and Kevin
Beckman of Trident Steel that provided enough
financial support for us to give every rider
a new helmet and gift certificate for a new
bike. Plus, West County Christian Church was
a fabulous host, providing the best facility
ever (and much, much more) for a bike clinic.
Thank you to everyone who helped and/or gave.
It was an incredible week thanks to you.
Click
here for photo slideshow.
|
