Beneficiaries

New trike and ready to roll

Jim had never had a bike of his own - until now.

Jim Stronach’s family love nothing more than jumping on their bikes and heading off to the coast and countryside. But teenager Jim, who suffers from autism, dyspraxia, hydrocephalus, asthma and learning disabilities, had never had a bike of his own – until now.

His mum, Jane, applied to the Sunshine Fund for a recumbent trike, after he had borrowed a trike a year ago to do the Coast to Coast bike ride as a family. He was also able to use a trike at school, but only for an hour once a week, which was far from ideal.

Now that Jim has his own trike, his mum has noticed that his confidence has massively increased.

“He absolutely loves it. I thinks it’s the feeling of being able to move fast because he’s never really been able to do that.

“It’s given him independence, and he’s already lost weight because he’s getting a lot more exercise.

Jane also told us that Jim is learning to become more aware of others, and that she hopes one day he will be able to use his trike unaccompanied and get out on his own.

At the moment, the family is enjoying being able to be active together.


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