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About 15 years ago, Andrew, a businessman and cyclist, was riding his bike, when he thought about a friend’s 12-year-old son. The boy had never known the happiness of biking because he suffered from a brain disease that often causes balance problems.
When he got home, Andrew went online and found a three-wheel recumbent bike (卧式自行车) with a seat belt, perfect for a child with balance problems. Soon the boy was cycling around the street with his friends, having fun and getting exercise. His father could never forget the smile on his face when he saw his son communicating with other kids.
That smile started a charity foundation. Funded by donations, the group works with certain clinics to find children who can benefit from owning an adaptive bike. They try to help make each bike meet the special needs of the children. The bikes are very expensive, but for kids who are lucky enough to get one, they are a life changer.
“We worked with a 14-year-old child who has walking difficulty,” says Andrew. “She spent most days on the sofa watching TV. Soon after she got her bike, she was training for a cycling competition. In a magazine interview, she said that she always knew there was an athlete in herself!”
