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iCan Shine helps special needs children learn to ride a bike

After a few laps of riding his specialized roller bike, 12-year-old Aiden Roy of Donahue, Iowa said he was ready for his rocket boosters. Roy, who was diagnosed...

After a few laps of riding his specialized roller bike, 12-year-old Aiden Roy of Donahue, Iowa said he was ready for his rocket boosters.

Roy, who was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, struggles with the use of motor skills. He walks with a limp, and simple tasks like riding a bike are nearly impossible without training wheels. However, on Monday, July 27, at the Quad City Expo Center in Moline, Roy was not only able to ride a bike without training wheels, but he was able to peddle so fast he was passing others on the track.

iCan Shine helps special needs children learn to ride a bike

The riders would pedal their way around cones, many of them gleaming a smile under their helmets.

The bikes are provided by iCan Shine, a national charitable nonprofit organization that conducts more than 100 five-day iCan Bike programs in 32 states. The organization has taught approximately 20,000 people with disabilities how to ride a conventional two-wheel bike, according to icanshare.org.

This year was the first time for the camp to use iCan Bikes, and it's been a success, said physical therapist Sarah Polich.

iCan Shine helps special needs children learn to ride a bike

Aiden Roy's dad, Joseph, smiled as he watched Aiden ride his bike with ease.

"It's just amazing watching him, right out of the gate, go," Roy said.

Each rider had at least two volunteer spotters who would walk, or in many cases run, alongside them. By the end of the child's session, many of the volunteers were dripping sweat, exhausted from running and keeping up with the bikers.

The bike camp will continue through Friday, July 31.

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