Bike ride fundraiser marks 10 years of providing adaptive bikes to kids

Hatched in an Elmhurst physical therapist’s driveway, a fundraising idea rolls again Aug. 24 with the Bike for the Kids 10th anniversary festival in South Elgin’s Panton Mill Park.

The Easterseals DuPage & Fox Valley ride and community festival features individual riders, teams, family members and advocates supporting adaptive biking experiences and pediatric therapies for children with developmental delays and disabilities.

What makes this event unique is the adaptive bike giveaway. Not just a bike ride and not just a fundraiser, this event personifies the freedom and thrill that all kids relish while biking. It’s especially delightful for those with mobility issues who, for the first time, ride a bike customized just for them.

Since giveaways started in 2017, more than 80 kids have received adaptive bikes, trikes, and trailers through the Jonathan Goers Bike Club at Easterseals. This program was established by Dick and Ellie Goers of Hinsdale to share son Jonathan’s love of biking with children of all abilities.

Adaptive bikes address different mobility issues. Recumbents help children with strong lower body abilities. Trikes provide stability in coordination/balance situations. Handcycle bikes propel those with spinal cord issues. Some adaptive bikes — a handcycle recumbent — have multiple adaptations.

Beyond physical benefits

Adaptive bikes enable children with disabilities to bike to school, hang with peers, or enjoy family outings. Ask any physical therapist — biking benefits kids physically, socially and emotionally.

The idea originated when Elmhurst’s Joanne Pygon, Easterseals’ assistant director of physical therapy, and physical therapist Laura Basi of Batavia registered for a 2015 DuPage County Forest Preserves ride. Basi suggested they not only bike but also raise funds for Easterseals where they both served young clients.

“We started training for this ride and brought in co-workers, client families, friends, and staff,” recalled Pygon. “People of all abilities came out that October,” rolling down her driveway to the Illinois Prairie Path. “It was chilly that morning, but really fun. So many supporters joined us along the way.”

In 2016 Kelly Moreland, vice president of development, suggested that Easterseals adopt a bike ride as an official fundraising event. A committee was organized including Jennifer Huard and husband cyclist Jonathan, owner of luxury homebuilder JRH Properties, LLC.

With her sister receiving Easterseals services for many years, Jennifer and her mother had extensive experience volunteering, both having served on Easterseals Gala Committee.

Among others, Huard’s B4D4WN biking team has been supporting the event since its inception.

“We’ve donated an adaptive bike via the club every year since the first year, roughly 10 bikes,” he recently reported.

“Having a bicycle is a child’s first taste of freedom. Seeing adaptive bikes given to the kids, and their excitement — it’s very rewarding,” Huard noted in a 2022 interview.

Unlike standard bikes, adaptive bikes can range from $3-5,000 even before customization, per Hal Honeyman, owner of The Bike Rack in St. Charles, and founder in 2004 of Project Mobility, a nonprofit supporting hundreds of adaptive biking activities, workshops and other services.

Pygon said they consulted with Honeyman about the giveaways when the Goers program began. The process starts early.

“Therapists consider which clients are ready for biking,” explained Pygon. “We review the applications and decide who is ready. Typically, we can meet everyone’s needs.”

Awarded families bring their child to Honeyman’s shop so mechanics can custom-fit each child’s adaptive bike.

Generous biking community

“It’s really great how generous the biking community has been,” said Pygon. Erin Skaggs, Easterseals’ director of marketing for the last six years, echoed that sentiment, expressing significant support from the Fox Valley community. Netting over $150,000 in the past decade, this year’s goal is $25,000.

Separately, Skaggs also recognized the efforts of Yes We Can Cycling Team. Riders completed 120 miles at Colorado’s Triple Bypass Ride July 12 and reached their $500,000 goal for three organizations: Easterseals, Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago, and Cerebral Palsy Foundation.

Team member and CBRE Vice Chairman, Brad Serot of Winnetka, has fundraised for Easterseals since 2020. “Yes, I Can,” his daughter’s mantra as an Easterseals client, led to the team’s name. Per Serot, the team has finished the Colorado race five times, raising over $2.3 million for multiple charities in which riders’ families are involved.

Bike for the Kids check-in starts at 8:30 a.m. The festival — live music, games, vendors, and more — opens at 10 a.m. At 9:30 a.m., bikers can join a guided seven-mile ride on the Fox River Trail.

The Wheaton Dad Band kicks off entertainment at 11 a.m. as lunch is served. Adaptive bikes are presented at 12:15 p.m., followed by the traditional family-friendly pedal parade. Register at Bike for the Kids.

Night riding at Busse Woods

Speaking of 10th anniversaries, Friends of Cycling in Elk Grove and The Forest Preserves of Cook County will celebrate the 10th Busse Woods Night Ride on Aug. 23.

Limited to 280 riders, the event runs 6:30—11 p.m. at the Chicago River Canoe and Kayak at Busse Reservoir Main Pool (formerly Busse Woods Boating Center), accessible off Higgins Road (Route 72) east of I-290. Proceeds support biking in Elk Grove, Busse Woods and the northwest suburbs.

For safety reasons riders select a nine or 14-mile “wave” when registering to limit the size of each riding group. A helmet and front white headlight are required. Never Ending Cycles, and Crank Revolution will provide bike safety checks. Live music, adult beverages and food for purchase will keep the party rocking.

• Join the ride. Contact Ralph Banasiak at alongfortheridemail@gmail.com.