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By: Crystal Rowland

The Pujols Family Foundation of Southern California, along with United Cerebral Palsy and Down Syndrome Association of Orange County, offered 40 individuals with disabilities the opportunity to experience riding a bike, something many of us take for granted. The 2013 iCan Shine Bike Camp began on Monday, August 6, 2013, in the gym at Soka University. The five-day camp allows the right amount of time needed for the participants to progress from a bike with training wheels to the ultimate goal of riding on just two wheels.

The first day jitters set in, but our guests looked stellar in their helmets as they hopped on their bikes! Slowly but surely their confidence levels grew and skill levels followed. The adaptive bikes from iCan Shine helped our participants learn the feeling of riding a two wheel bike without training wheels while still feeling the security of some additional help. Participants got to feel the need for speed while riding a tandem bicycle with the iCan Shine Bike staff!

Staff, volunteers, parents and participants alike cheered as these exciting milestones were made! As their confidence and conviction grew, our riders became more adventurous and daring on their new mode of transportation. By the final day, our riders looked like naturals and ventured out of the indoor gymnasium and into the outdoors to ride bikes with 2 wheels for the first time!  Our stellar volunteers got their workouts in by trying to keep up with the riders as they increased their speed!

We are so grateful to the iCan Shine Bike Camp and their willingness to work with our community. The gift of confidence and self-esteem given to our participants is invaluable. We are grateful to have seen our participants learn this new skill and gain a little more faith in themselves and others.

We look forward to seeing you out there riding your bikes!  Remember…Stay in the bike lane and wear your helmet!