SASKATOON – It’s the happiest of Halloweens for a young boy with cerebral palsy and one he’ll never forget all thanks to students and staff at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. For weeks, they put in countless hours making a customized costume for little Henry Craig Van-Vliet.
The seven-year-old that can now take a cruise on the wild side while trick-or-treating in his new motorcycle wheelchair attachment that was built in phases over the last couple weeks.
“We came here several times but Henry had no idea, he just thought we were in a shop,” said Annie Bradford, Henry’s grandmother.
“This is cool,” she said.
“Grandma was bringing him here and then he got the bike, it was freak out,” said Bradford.
Henry’s mother says it’s a dream come true for her son who hasn’t let the movement disorder slow him down one bit.
“It warms my heart, it’s just is unbelievable,” said Lexie Craig, Henry’s mom.
“All these people, I don’t know any of them for them to do this for him, words can’t even express how I’m feeling right now.”
Moments later, Henry got his motor running and headed out into the hallways of the institution to parade around the school, showing off his new customized “Henry Davidson” to the Sask Polytech student body.
“I appreciate it so much, they went above and beyond,” added Henry’s mom.
“I didn’t even know what to expect with the motorcycle and when I saw it I thought this is unbelievable.”
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Not wanting the boy to miss out this Halloween, 10 students from three different programs chipped in to help after hours. Industrial mechanics, auto body and welding students along with a program head spent a month putting together what can only be described as a costume of a lifetime.
“That’s the beauty of industry, we all have various trades, various skills,” said Rob Gilchirst, program head for Industrial Mechanics at Sask Polytech.
“It’s all that idea of coming together, have some innovative ideas in there and pull it off.”
Gilchrist acknowledged just how much it took for such an elaborate upgrade to the wheelchair to come together.
“We had to make a little mock-up of the chair and then from that we had to come up with some sketches and some drawings and really when you’re trying to come up with some ideas and some plans, it’s not that easy.”
The project was also one of the most rewarding for the group and to see the smile on young Henry’s face, Gilchrist says was priceless.
As for whether little Henry will retire the ride after whatever comes his way Saturday, his mom says it’s unlikely.
“You’ll probably see us out grocery shopping and it will have the motorcycle attachment to it.”
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