Dear Editor:
On July 9, 25 individuals with disabilities arrived at Hoboken High School with the goal to learn to ride a two-wheel bicycle independently as part of the 2nd Annual Lose the Training Wheels Bike Camp, hosted by the Hoboken Family Alliance.
Five days later, 20 of those individuals were riding thanks to the help and support of Ed Miller, associate superintendent of the city’s recreation department, who helped oversee the camp, more than 50 volunteers, and local and national sponsors, who helped provide the financial support to fund the cost of the camp, which includes two Lose the Training Wheels professionals.
Hosting the camp is no small endeavor but the results were well worth the more than 200 hours of planning, thousands of emails, hundreds of phone calls and dozens of meetings. In just a few days, participants went from riding adapted bikes with special wheels to help provide balance, to riding independently. And we could not have pulled it off without the flexibility and assistance of the entire Hoboken High School staff, including Vinny Johnson and Marty Shannon. A true team effort helped us move from the high-school gym to the track with ease throughout the week as the participants progressed throughout a methodical hierarchy of equipment – even as Hoboken’s first district summer camp took place.
We would like to extend a very special thanks to all of our sponsors who helped make the camp a success: A&P, Ben & Jerry’s, Coca-Cola, City of Hoboken, Clearview Cinemas, Hoboken Harriers Running Club, hMag, Litzky Public Relations, Macy’s, Orlando Physical Therapy and WPLJ 95.5. While all of our sponsors were a tremendous asset, the city went above and beyond with its support, especially with the support of the recreation department led by Leo Pellegrini and parking access for participating volunteers and families. Litzky provided a full roster of volunteers with 20 plus folks who showed up to assist participants for an afternoon. Ben & Jerry’s not only provided financial support, but also lent volunteer support, smiles and free ice-cream. Orlando Physical Therapy provided a short seminar to families to help get their kids bike-ready and support for our closing ceremony. And A&P provided cases of water to help quench thirsts throughout the week.
The ceremony was an emotional, fun and inspiring occasion. Disabled individuals, after struggling for years to learn to ride a bike, learned that they could accomplish something that is a rite of passage for many typically developing kids. Many volunteers learned that disabled oftentimes just means different.
We celebrated amid tears and laughter at Veteran’s Field with pizza from Torna’s, ice-cream from Ben & Jerry’s and the musical sounds of WPLJ. It may not rival the closing ceremonies of the Olympics – yet. But we’ll be back next summer with more success stories as we continue to generate independence, awareness and acceptance – two wheels at a time.
Sincerely,
Theresa Howard
Director, Children with Special Needs, HFA