Tristen Onofry received a new bike on Saturday, Aug. 19 — one that not only allows the 15-year-old with athetoid cerebral palsy to ride independently with his friends and family, but a therapeutic bike that allows him to exercise and strengthen his muscles.
Onofry, along with 38 other children with a range of disabilities, including autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy, received new Amtryke bikes through the local Ambucs chapter, Palm Beach Trykers.
National Ambucs is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating mobility and independence for people with disabilities. The local nonprofit chapter Palm Beach Trykers, founded by a group of parents and therapists of children with disabilities earlier this year, raised more than $25,000 through private donors, fundraisers and with help from the nonprofit Hope4Mobilty to give away specialized Amtryke bikes to local families with children ranging in age from 4 to 24 years old.
For many of these children, it was the first time they were able to ride a bike, and for all of them, it was the first bike they could call their own.
Donations to Palm Beach Trykers can be made through Hope4Mobility at www.hope4mobility.org/help_a_child, or a check payable to Palm Beach Trykers can be mailed to Palm Beach Trykers, 108 Miramar Avenue, Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411.
For more information about how to get an Amtryke bike or become a Palm Beach Tryker volunteer, visit www.facebook.com/palmbeachtrykers or e-mail palmbeachtykers@gmail.com.
Founded in 1922, National Ambucs is a nonprofit service organization consisting of a diverse group of men and women dedicated to creating mobility and independence for people with disabilities.
That mission is fulfilled by providing Amtryke therapeutic tricycles to individuals who are unable to operate traditional bikes, awarding scholarships to therapists and performing various other forms of community service. Currently, there are more than 5,000 members in over 140 chapters in more than 30 states. For more information, visit www.ambucs.org.
