money Three children receive latest adaptive cycles through 'Everybody Rides With Grace' program
LAS CRUCES - Three new adaptive cycles were recently presented to area children living with disabilities as part of the “Everybody Rides With Grace” program.
The program got its start after teen Grace Holguin, who has Down Syndrome and a congenital heart defect, had her adaptive trike stolen — though it was later found. Her family saw the positivity that came from Grace being able to ride the trike and decided to create an initiative to help make the expensive cycles more accessible for other kids living with disabilities. The program is a partnership with Velo Cruces.
Jacob Mancha received the first adaptive trike through the program in August 2021. Roberto Lopez, Anakin Rojas and Selena Salazar-Aguirre were the next three recipients of a cycle customized to meet their unique needs.
The cycles were presented to the kids at the Pat and Lou Sisbarro Field on the New Mexico State University campus in January.
Lopez, 17, is a student at Santa Teresa High and is autistic. His mother, Ana Pinela, said the family tried to teach him to ride a bicycle when he was younger, but balancing was difficult. It was also not easy to see his siblings have no trouble at all riding their bikes.
The tricycle Lopez received in January 2022 provided him the support he needed and Pinela said he took off right away.
“He would always say, ‘How come I can’t balance, mama?’” Pinela said of her son. “So then he just gave up. And with this one, he just popped into it and he knew what to do. He peddled and he was going up and down the park.”
For Eileen Salazar, it was emotional to see her nine-year-old daughter, Selena, be able to ride her own tricycle. Selena was diagnosed with an intellectual disability and global developmental delay — meaning it takes her more time to process information. Though she is nine, Salazar said Selena is developmentally around three or four.
The little girl was able to choose the trike’s colors and her mom said she “loves it.”
“Before it was a little bit of a struggle," Salazar said. "(Her) sisters wouldn't be able to use their bike because Selena would get upset because she couldn't get on it.”
Selena had a hard time understanding why she couldn’t ride her sisters’ bikes.
Now, the family can go on rides together and the cycle will continue to adapt as Selena grows. Salazar said it will also help with her daughter’s physical therapy. Selena was recently diagnosed with diabetes, so the physical exercise she’ll get with her trike will help keep her motivated to stay active.
Rojas' mother, Mayra Mendoza, said her 8-year-old son had never ridden a bike before. He is autistic and has trouble with balancing. She said he was scared before, but was very excited to try out his special trike.
"He actually wants to ride it everyday now," Mendoza said. "I feel like it's helping his ... confidence."
All three families said they were grateful for Grace’s program and encourage others who have children with disabilities to get involved with the program. Donations to support Everybody Rides With Grace can be made through a GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/f/pay-it-forward-with-grace. Those interested in taking part in the program can email ridewgrace@gmail.com.
Leah Romero is the trending reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News and can be reached at 575-418-3442, LRomero@lcsun-news.com or @rromero_leah on Twitter.
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This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Three children receive adaptive cycles through special program
