It wasn't the Fourth of July, but the parade last Sunday in a Jupiter parking lot was certainly a celebration of freedom, that is the freedom that comes from riding your very own bike. Most of us take the freedom of mobility for granted, but for seven local children with special needs, this freedom was indeed to be celebrated.

Planning for this event began approximately one year ago when a local pediatric physical therapist, Jim Moore met Joe Copeland, the Executive Director of Ambucs. Ambucs is a national non-profit organization dedicated to creating mobility and independence for people with disabilities. The organization raises money to purchase Amtryke therapeutic tricycles for children nationwide. Moore told Copeland about Kid's Quest, a local non-profit organization that he started in 2003, which also provides equipment and services to local children with special needs. The two men decided to combine efforts to bring the Ambucs program to Palm Beach County.

Last spring, Kid's Quest sponsored a demonstration and fitting day, staffed by volunteers from Children's Therapies, Inc, the ARC, and Boy Scout Troop 132. By the end of the day, 25 local children from ages 3 to 17 with different levels of mobility and experience had been evaluated and fitted for adaptive bikes. Seventeen year-old Ray, from South Bay, was there requesting a bike to replace the one that was stolen from his front lawn. While the families of 4-year old Addie and 3 year-old Jesus were looking for a way their children could "get around" with their peers. Although both are unable to walk independently, they are both able to ride an adaptive bike independently.

It was an exciting morning for the children, parents and volunteers alike. Immediately upon riding the shiny red bike for the first time, 10 year-old Tyler proclaimed that he will be riding his new bike to school everyday! "You just can't imagine the look of joy on a kid's face when he rides a bike for the first time,' Moore said, "and for that matter, many of these parents assumed their children would never be able to ride a bike. We are giving these children access to a lifetime recreational activity. It's very heartwarming to be a part of this program."

After all the fitting was complete, the bike orders were then sent to Ambucs to be placed on the national "wish list". Through a very generous donation from the Irvine, TX chapter of Ambucs, seven of the 25 bikes, chosen by lottery from the list, were purchased and distributed to the children in the parking lot of Children's Therapies, Inc. last Sunday. With a backdrop of balloons and music, the children formed a celebratory parade round and around the parking lot. Ray received his replacement bike and Addie and Jesus were able to move independently on their new bikes.

Unfortunately Tyler and 18 other children will have to wait until enough money is raised to purchase the rest of the bikes, which cost between $500 and $1500 each. It is the goal of the volunteers at Kid's Quest to make sure each child on the list gets his or her bike. "I would love for each child to get a bike by the holidays," Moore mused.

If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to help with the purchase of the bikes, please mail your check to Kid's Quest, 935 Military Trail, Jupiter, FL 33458. Reference the word "bike". All donations will go directly toward the purchase of bikes for local children.