Imagine that your child wanted a bike, but there was nothing available for them that would suit their special considerations. I'm pretty sure I would be frustrated...and annoyed...
But let's say you were a really positive person who doesn't give up easily, and instead of complaining, your wheels started turning. After some diligent research, you find the perfect bike, only it doesn't cost $99 from your local Walmart.....it costs $2300.00. Oh, and you're going to have to build it yourself. Sure! No problem!
I recently met Deb Buenaga, Supermom and Executive Director of Preston's March for Energy. That situation wasn't a hypothetical for Deb, it was reality when she tried to find a bike for her son Preston.
Deb is an amazing mom who has turned her own difficult situation into a machine that now grinds it's wheels to produce and gift bikes to children with special needs all over the country. I met her during the vendor show at the Garden for Hope unveiling at the Herman Holloway Campus in New Castle County.
While my kids sat and read to the therapy dogs on site at the Garden Fair, (who they already knew from their own AI duPont Hospital visits) I talked with Deb, her son Preston (who sat on his awesome adapted bike) and her friends who are board members for their organization, Preston's March for Energy. I looked through the photos of bikes they gifted to children with special needs, and could see that their mission was very clear~to make other kids as happy as Deb's own son. I asked her how they got started, and why it was so important to keep paying it forward:
Preston loves to go outside and be outside but he used to just sit because there wasn't much he could do. When he was smaller we had small trikes, big wheels etc... When he got bigger there were less opportunities to adapt to his needs with less expensive options. When I saw the bike on FB I knew it was what he needed, but it was too expensive to buy. That night my friend set up a fundraising page on FB and in 5 days raised $2300 for the bike. All of our bikes are bought from either Triaid, which is based in Scotland, or from Top End, which is based in Rhode Island. The bikes are shipped to Brandywine Cyclery, which is located in N. Wilmington and they build the bikes for us. Then we deliver them!
Could that be any more awesome? After those Facebook friends extended a kindness to her son, she instantly knew she wanted to pay it forward. Now Deb and her husband go all over the country gifting bikes to children who would be sitting on the sidelines otherwise.
Even though I was a special education teacher before having my own kids, I had not had experience with Mitochondrial Disease, and really didn't know anything about it. So I came home and jumped on their website to understand it better. Click here for the nutshell explanation of Mitochondrial Disease.
Or just listen to Jack Black...who doesn't love Jack Black?
Preston's March has a fundraiser coming up, and if you are moved to do so, consider coming out to the event below, or make a donation to help a child experience the freedom of riding a bike!
Deb, you are an inspiration, and I'm so glad I got to meet you that day and make a new friend :)
Click below for event information on their upcoming event:
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