20 Liberty Trikes To Be Donated to Children with SMA, Other Diseases
Electric Bike Technologies (EBT) will donate 20 of its Liberty Trikes this year to help children with limited abilities get exercise and enjoy bike rides with their family and friends.
In addition to helping young people with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the active-mobility tricycles, which can be folded, will go to those with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and other physical conditions that make mobility difficult.
The rare genetic condition SMA is marked by progressive muscle weakness and atrophy that mainly affects motor function. Such symptoms, which include poor muscle tone and control, impair patients’ motor development and/or mobility. DMD is marked by muscle weakness and wasting.
The company began its trike donation after receiving an email in 2019 from a mother seeking advice about electric trike options for her daughter, Allison, who has SMA. Kimberly Heinrich wanted Allison to get physical exercise and be able to keep pace with her siblings on family bike rides.
“When she’s on the trike, she’s just a different kid,” Heinrich said in a press release. “She’s not the kid on a mobility scooter or wheelchair. She feels like everyone else.”
The three-wheel portable bike has a 750-watt motor, pedal extenders, front disc and rear coaster brakes, and a twist throttle with speed-limited reverse capabilities. It also features a comfort seat with backrest, a removable rear basket and an easy-to-read backlit LCD display.
“As a father of three young children myself, this was an easy decision,” Jason Kraft, CEO of Electric Bike Technologies, said. “Liberty Trike was originally designed with senior riders in mind, but once we saw how Liberty could benefit these kids and their families, we had to make this happen. We look forward to doing even more for years to come.”
EBT has directly donated 34 Liberty Trikes to date and contributions have enabled the company to give away 32 more for a combined value of $103,716.
The company intends to donate more trikes this year with the help of Heinrich, now EBT’s charitable coordinator. Go here to learn more about the EBT initiative Liberty Trikes for Kids. Visit this site to apply for a Liberty Trike and view an interview with Heinrich, who will review applications.
To be considered for a trike, children must have type 2 or type 3 SMA and be being treated. They also must have trunk stability, hand and arm strength, core strength, and sufficient stamina. To date, the youngest child to receive a Liberty Trike was 9.
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