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Last year, Andy learned how to read his ten-speed bike and blew his dad and I away with how much he loved it.
Watching him as he rode his bike, the grin on his face was huge and carefree, his face was turned to the sun occasionally, and he just looked so FREE and happy. He might have been 13 when he finally ‘got it’ but he was no less awesome for finally understanding the joy of riding his own bike, and he can’t wait for the weather to warm up again so he can be right back out there riding again this year.
As happy as I was for him, and as proud as I was too (let’s be honest!), I don’t know if Bobby and Logan will be ever find the right bike to let them do the same, to feel that free and awesome … adaptive bikes or not. But hopefully we’ll find out some day. Bobby is just too scared, and since his field of vision starts petering out about 2-3 feet away it makes sense that not seeing the ground *might* be a little unsettling for him. Logan … while he has vision issues too, I think he’d be a rider if he could coordinate the actions – he loves all kinds of vestibular motion.
See, that’s where an adaptive bike comes in … we’ve been thinking it might be time to try and get Logan and/or Bobby a bike of their own to try – if only we could figure out one that worked for one of them! It’s a bike, adapted to meet the different needs of kids with awesomeness.
Here’s Where the Great Bike Giveaway Comes in!
I want my other guys to have the same experience Andy had when he figured out how to truly ride and enjoy his ten-speed. I want other kids with awesomeness to feel the same way too! The Great Bike Giveaway will help give children with all kinds of special needs the same feeling.
For the third consecutive year Friendship Circle is holding the Great Bike Giveaway, a national contest giving away adaptive bikes to children with special needs. They are partnering with tons of sponsors (located at the bottom of the post – give them some love!) to give away adaptive bikes to children and young adults with special needs.
Why The Great Bike Giveaway?
Many children with special needs miss out on the childhood joy of bike riding because their physical or cognitive limitations make riding a bicycle near impossible. The Great Bike Giveaway will give children and young adults with special needs the chance to win an adaptive bike and have the feeling of pride, freedom and confidence that bike riding brings.
After seeing the joy Andy finally experienced riding his bike last year, I feel more inspired than ever to push the Great Bike Giveaway this year – I want that same free spirit and excitement for every child, regardless of their unique abilities. Yes, I want it for my own kids, but I want it for a TON of other kids too!
And that’s where YOU come in!
How The Contest Works
Adaptive bikes are tailored to a child’s needs. To meet the needs of the recipients in this contest, a separate contest is held for each bike type. The contest starts with two bikes of each type and money is raised to add more bikes as the contest progresses. Last year the Great Bike Giveaway ran 6 different contests and gave away a total of 29 bikes! This year they are hoping to give away 75 bikes to individuals with special needs.
Each bike page has a space where users can enter the contest. Submit a picture of your child with special needs along with a short explanation of why your child needs an adaptive bike.
We’re still deciding if we want to do this for one of our guys or support another Cafe friend’s nomination – but even if we put in one of the guys for their own bike we can still support any Cafe friend who wants to enter their child! Leave a link to your nomination in your comment and we’ll put a post together just for Cafe friends to support!
From the winner of a Parent: Judd, received his Rifton tricycle that he won through your bike giveaway. He loves it so much. His first time out with it , he pedaled .75 miles! Everyone at the track had a smile on their faces watching him enjoy his bike. The biggest smile there belonged to him though.
Two Ways to Win
Most Votes
One bike in each contest will be given away to the entry with the most nominations. Nominations are received from friends and family clicking the “nominate button” on an entrants submission
Bike Raffle
All the remaining bikes will be placed in a drawing. To be eligible for the drawing each submission must be nominated by at least 50 friends and family members.
How You Can Help
Whether you have a child with special needs or not you can help more children with special needs win an adaptive bike.
1. Donate To Add More Bikes
In addition to the bikes that have been sponsored, Individuals have the ability to donate to the Great Bike Giveaway to get more bikes added. Every time the donation meter is filled another bike gets added to the drawing!
2. Share and promote
Let as many people as possible know about the opportunity to win an adaptive bike by sharing the the contest via your social networks and email. You can also check out the resources page for additional tools you can use to share the contest.
Contest Timeline
March 3rd 12:00 pm
Contest begins! Photo submissions will be accepted.
March 25th 11:59 am
Contest submission deadline, no entries will be accepted after this time.
March 26th
Drawing (Drawing date is tentative and subject to change) Will be held and winners will be announced.
To enter the Great Bike Giveaway visit www.greatbikegiveaway.com For contest rules visit www.friendshipcircle.org/bikes/rules.
A Special Thank You To the Sponsors
All are Welcome; Share your Thoughts!