Greater Harrisburg's Community Magazine

At ceremony, adaptive bikes donated, provided to children with disabilities

An adaptive bike recipient rolls through the atrium of Capital Blue Cross headquarters.

Eight central PA children are the new owners of adaptive bikes and strollers, which were distributed on Monday at a ceremony at Capital Blue Cross headquarters.

Capital Blue Cross, based in Susquehanna Township, and Pittsburgh-based Variety, the Children’s Charity joined forces to distribute the equipment during a ceremony in conjunction with Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

“Today was a touching and poignant reminder of how important it is for all of us to feel like we belong,” said Capital Blue Cross President and CEO Todd Shamash.

Variety, the Children’s Charity funds and delivers medical equipment and services to children who are sick, disadvantaged or living with a disability. Capital Blue Cross provided a donation for the bikes.

“Variety’s programs align wonderfully with Capital’s values and mission,” Shamash said. “Variety goes above and beyond to empower children with disabilities to live life to the fullest, and Capital goes the extra mile every day to improve the health and well-being not only of our members, but of the communities they call home.”

Former Gov. Tom Corbett and several area officials were also on hand during the presentation and donation.

During the ceremony, several children rode their new bikes and strollers around the Capital Blue Cross building atrium, as dozens of employees looked on.

In all, five children received bikes and three received strollers. Among the stroller recipients was 7-year-old Thomas of Elizabethtown. His mother, Charlotte, said the stroller will keep him safer.

“This is more suited to his needs,” Charlotte said. “Thomas runs off a lot when the opportunity arises, because he can get out of the stroller he currently uses. He needs something that will keep him safer as he grows, so the adaptive stroller will make a big difference.”

Variety the Children’s Charity began its adaptive bike program in 2012 and now serves 59 Pennsylvania counties. It has presented more than 6,100 adaptive bikes, strollers, and communications devices, and provides the equipment at no cost to qualifying children and families.

For more information on Capital Blue Cross, visit their website. For more information on Variety, the Children’s Charity, visit their website.

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