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An Amtryke is a therapeutic tricycle that is modified to meet the particular needs of handicapped children and adults and as the child grows, the Amtryke can be modified. Amtryke makes foot trykes, hand trykes, and hand & foot trykes in a wide range of sizes. Nearly every rider can be successful, no matter their diagnosis, because Amtrykes are highly adjustable trykes and have a huge range of adaptive accessories.

Its not just a bike! Its Love!

Parents and therapists report that Amtrykes build strength, coordination, tone and self-esteem. “For parents, the Amtryke fills the need of every child to have a bike—just like their siblings and friends.” (AMBUCS, “Parents”) They have been found to create independence and mobility as well as providing social opportunities such as helping establish new friends, promoting family activities and enabling greater interaction with peers. One should see the face of the child light up in joy when knowing that this bike is made for them and they can have fun riding a bike!

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KIWANIS AMTRYKE PROGRAM

The Amtryke Project was started in 2017 and is still going strong.

Adaptive tricycles are expensive but we know theirs a need for them. Many Families who would benefit from them are already under financial strain due to therapy and medical bills. We knew we could help! Thus, we started doing projects to help raise funds for them (our spaghetti dinners) and working with area service agencies to select children that would be capable and benefit from the presentation of an Amtryke. We not only donated them for families; but also donated bikes to schools, where many children could use them. So far, six amtrykes have been assembled and presented to children in the area. We are currently working on making two more!!

How did this all come together?

• In 2016, The North Ridgeville Club heard about the Amtryke Project that was the First Family Project of the 2015-2016 Ohio Kiwanis Governor, Amy Zimmerman. The opportunity to help a young child be more active and have fun while getting fit was right in line with their mission
• The N. Ridgeville Kiwanis Club contacted Murray Ridge School and with the help of Jeff Miller and Dan Swift, they were able to arrange for the therapist’s assessment to ensure the bike was a proper fit.
• The order was placed with the assistance of Amy and Sandy Zimmerman, and the Club members came together to assemble it.
• Murray Ridge assisted with the arrangements to present the Amtryke to Lana and Her Family.

Thanks to Cindy Hemsoth, for taking charge of this project and making contact with the school to find a need. Thanks to the our other members for their help in guiding us thru the process to get this off the ground and make it a reality.

First bike but not last

A Murray Ridge School student got an early Christmas present on Dec. 19 2017 with the help of the Kiwanis Club of North Ridgeville.

A team of volunteers put the bicycle together over the course of about five hours, getting it ready for the special presentation.

“We try to stay positive but when something like this comes together, it’s really nice,”

Wayne Dvorscak.

Makenzie, a fourth-grader at Murray Ridge, struggled to contain her excitement when the bicycle was overwhelmed with tears of joy before getting the chance to take her first ride around the school’s sprawling gymnasium.

“Putting this all together, Kiwanis if you don’t know about us we are all about helping the children and the community but we focus on the children. But I think having this opportunity to bring the Amtryke in at the time, is really close to our hearts. It is really our pleasure,”

Cindy Hemsoth, who coordinates the Kiwanis Club’s Amtryke program.

Michelle Hyer, a paraprofessional at North Ridgeville Schools, said the district is grateful for the donation. “They are so generous, not just for her bike, but for the four others as well,” Hyer said. “Kiwanis has been a huge help.”

“These bikes aren’t cheap; they are at least $1,000 (the bike that was purchased is listed at $1,316.69 on americanqualityhealthproducts.com), so it’s really a huge donation.” (The Morning Journal).