Beneficiaries

Joy for nine-year-old who struggled to ride a bike

Billy, who has Down’s Syndrome and autistic spectrum disorder, has had trouble using a normal bicycle in the past, but now thanks to the Sunshine Fund he can enjoy riding his own specialist trike.

Billy, who has Down’s Syndrome and autistic spectrum disorder, has had trouble using a normal bicycle in the past. His family are keen cyclers and regularly go on jaunts to the coast and surrounding countryside.

Earlier this year they even took their bikes abroad for a two-wheeled trip around Holland. Billy joined them, but when it came to cycling he could only travel on a special tandem-style carriage on the back of his dad’s bike.

But now, thanks to the Sunshine Fund, Billy has his own trike, and can join the rest of the family. His parents say the trike represents a new lease of life for him.

Billy’s dad, Peter said: “He wasn’t very confident on a bike with stabilisers. It wobbled a bit and he was a bit tense and nervous.

“My wife Sally is a physiotherapist and she knew about these trikes and we decided it would be great for him.

“Straight away he was handling his new trike fine and was off on his own. He loves it. He’s much more confident now. He likes going out with the rest of the family and this has just given him a bit more independence.”

Now Billy is free to pedal to his heart’s content on trips to the local park with sister Kemi and brothers Colm and Dominic.


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