WINNIPEG – Riding a bike is usually one of the earliest lessons a child learns. Not being able to accomplish that feat is potentially crushing, but Allison Hay got past that challenge and now has wheels of her own.
When Hay was born with hearing loss in both ears and eye defects — she was later diagnosed with CHARGE Syndrome, which affects tissue in various organs in the body during development — the Hay family knew there would be challenges ahead.
“One of the things that we saw when she got to be three or four years old is that she could race around on a tricycle no problem, but when it came from transitioning from a trike to a bike, there was no way that was going to happen,” said David Hay, Allison’s father.
The Hay family did some research, looking for a bike that would suit their daughter’s needs, but it wasn’t easy to find. There were options overseas, but the price tag just continued to climb.
A family friend encouraged them to apply for funding at Variety, the Children’s Charity.
“Our application went along and the next thing you know, we got this wonderful email from Variety saying you’ve been accepted for funding for your special needs trike and we’re going to fully provide for it. And we had a big celebration in our house,” Hay said with a smile.
Little did they know the bike could be built in Winnipeg. Freedom Concepts designed it specifically for Allison.
Of course, the teenager had some important input, such as picking the paint colour and all the detailing, but the company did the rest.
It was a long process, but building the bikes is about more than just hardware. It truly is a life-changing event for the individual on the receiving end.
“Really, it’s all just about helping people. It’s definitely the best part of my job, just seeing the difference we can make on a child or an adult’s life,” said Evan Paterson, marketing manager of Freedom Concepts.
Allison was 14 when Variety presented her with the bike. Now 17, she’s outdoors as much as the weather will allow, slowly continuing to build her strength, riding the bike that Variety helped build.
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