Mack and Jett are brothers whose lives have been forever changed by the simple joy of riding a bike.
11-year-old Mack has strong determination and a steadfast belief in his abilities and nine-year-old Jett’s resilience and courage know no bounds.
Both brothers’ childhoods have been marked with obstacles. Mack was born with rotated hips and a condition that causes his thighs to turn outwards, which means he easily loses his balance.
Jett was born with a severe skull mutation and other serious health issues. He had to be resuscitated at birth. Before his first birthday, he’d already had more than 40 blood transfusions. Jett was non-verbal until he was five years old.
Both boys are living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and need support from their mum, Meika for most daily tasks.
Last year Mack expressed his desire to ride a bike. He was determined, but they’d tried to ride a standard bike before, and Meika knew the difficulty Mack faced with balance and support.
We recognise that a child with disabilities needs the opportunity to join in activities with friends and to have new and fun experiences the same as everybody else does.
Mum, Meika said, “I just want them to make friends. They shouldn’t feel like the world is an inaccessible place, filled with barriers that seem overwhelming. Children like Mack and Jett should be able to have the same experiences and opportunities as their peers.”
Thankfully, Mack and Jett’s occupational therapist put Meika in touch with us to see if we could help the boys with their very own bikes.
With Mack’s physical hip condition and balance issues, Meika was concerned he may never be able to ride a bike. She hated to think that either of her boys would miss out because of their different abilities.
Both boys attended a bike assessment day to try the bikes for the first time. Jett was hesitant at first because he had tried riding a bike before but lost his balance and fell. He didn’t feel safe.
But quickly he found the right bike for him and discovered a whole new confidence. His 24-inch Body Cycle’s Edge with three wheels made him feel safe and balanced.
Meika was completely overwhelmed by Mack’s reaction to riding his bike. “Honestly, he was like a changed kid. Just seeing his whole-body movement, the way he was holding himself, how proud he was,” she said.
