All I want for Christmas is a bike....

6 Comments

When a lot of kids ask for a bike for christmas or birthdays its fairly simple. Find one their size and they are good to go. But when my daughters who will be 7 and 9 come christmas day asked for a bike I was almost in tears I was so lost. The girls have Leukodystrophy and a normal bike wouldn’t do. They either need a special needs bike which runs into thousands or modifications with a similar price range which carer pensions don’t stretch and funding isn’t quick to come by.

I ended up talking to a place in WA where I live about modifying a normal bike. I never thought I would get them in time for Christmas but I was going to do my best to apply for funding so that sometime in 2016 my girls could hopave bikes. After emails back and forth with me fretting about money they came to meet my girls and I because they wanted to see what could be done.

When they got here they let the girls play on modified bikes to get their sizes. They then told me if I go out and buy 50cm bikes for both girls they will handle the funding for modifying them with a back rest and parent control bar. I was in tears.

I cannot wait until they get home from their dads house and they see their brand new blue cruiser bikes with white baskets on the front. Bikes like all the other kids have (and their step sister is also getting). The only difference is that theirs will have a back rest. Their wheelchairs can be left at school overnight one day a week so they can ride to school with the rest of their friends. We have even brought pink streamers and coloured spoke things to bling thrm up more.

Christmas is always more about the kids but its so rewarding at times as well…

I will never take simple requests for granted again as I now know personally how something so simple can emd uo being so hard for someone else.

Posted by clarebear1983, 4th November 2015

6 Comments

- - mom94125 said
  - 29 Dec 2015
    2:28 pm
oh wow that is so amazing that your girls will get a bike! so simple but to you guys , it is a big deal. while i was reading your story, i thought that shouldn’t it be a lot easier for you to get the things that you need, so you can try to give your children as normal a life as possible. I was thinking that there is a site called GO FUND ME. you can go there and make a request for donations from the public for things. i think that this bike issue, would have been a cause that would have done well. It is the compassion of strangers that will touch you the most. Maybe you will get donations to help you cover the cost of these types of things because no-one deserves to struggle!. Maybe check it out and see if it is useful to you. Good luck!

- - mom93821 said
  - 07 Nov 2015
    4:47 am
Love the streamers on the bike – they just complete a bike and also bring back magic childhood memories.

- - mom81879 said
  - 05 Nov 2015
    5:59 pm
Oh wow, what an awesome mum you are! I was going to say all I want for Christmas is a portable hammock. But that was too trivial for such a lovely story as yours. I wish you and your girls a great time with their bikes

- - mom165081 said
  - 04 Nov 2015
    11:00 pm
What an amazing story. So glad you managed to fulfil your children’s wishes.

- - mom90758 said
  - 04 Nov 2015
    3:22 pm
That’s wonderful news! I can imagine how happy your children now. Well done!

- - mom93821 said
  - 04 Nov 2015
    6:35 am
Absolutely awesome and good on you for organising bikes.for your kids! It will be a wonderful Christmas day for your family!