Four patients with orthopedic conditions at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Salt Lake City were fitted for new adaptive bikes Monday thanks to a $44,000-plus donation from Kruisers for Kids.
Three children receive a Rifton adaptive bike to help with developmental delays, and another child with congenital limb differences received a new arm-pedaled bike.
Adaptive bikes, which typically cost $500 to $2,000 each, allow children who can’t ride standard bikes the chance to get outside and have fun with neighbors and siblings, particularly beneficial now with families navigating COVID-19 precautions.
Other benefits include a sense of independence, lower extremity strengthening, cardiovascular exercise, weight management and balancing skills. Bike adaptations are customized to each child’s needs, ranging from hand pedals and secure seat belts to larger seats with a back and a lower center of gravity.
Funds for this year’s donation came from the group’s 27th annual car show and brings the organization’s collective giving to $430,000, helping the hospital give away more than 50 bikes a year to patients on a waiting list.
