Day 1 of the Abilities Expo Los Angeles will kick off at 10:45 a.m. on Friday, March 10, at the LA Convention Center with a surprise giveaway.
A 4-year-old boy from Huntington Beach who is living with cerebral palsy will receive the gift of his lifetime: an adaptive bike custom-built exclusively for his special needs. As a bonus, the boy’s twin sister will also receive a bike so they can enjoy the cherished childhood rite of passage together.
Funding for this giveaway is made possible through a partnership between the national medical fundraising nonprofit Help Hope Live (Booth #525) and the Esther & Pedro Rosenblatt Foundation.
Adaptive Bike Giveaway Makes Community Access and Peer Connection Possible
Austin is a 4-year-old living with cerebral palsy. He and his twin sister were born unexpectedly at just 29 weeks gestation. As a result of his premature birth and loss of oxygen during delivery, Austin sustained damage to the inner parts of his brain (PVL).
This condition affects his vision, causes spastic muscles, and affects all motor movements. Although Austin has made incredible progress with his motor skills through intensive therapy, he is constantly working against his body for every movement.
Austin is very social and loves to be out and about. His parents are fundraising with Help Hope Live so they can provide the necessary medical care and equipment to allow him to access his community and recreational activities safely with his sister and peers.
He is very determined and is constantly telling his parents: “I do it by my own self.”
That’s why this surprise adaptive bike, customized by Freedom Concepts to suit Austin’s abilities, is a game-changing opportunity. The bike will encourage mobility and strength, outdoor play, community engagement and additional health benefits. With a $5,000+ price tag out-of-pocket, the bike would be financially out-of-reach for Austin’s family without assistance.
Austin’s custom bike is funded by the generosity of the Esther & Pedro Rosenblatt Foundation, which provides grants to nonprofit, non-governmental organizations like Help Hope Live that work with children with disabilities and/or illness to improve their lives.
The event marks Help Hope Live’s 21st adaptive bike giveaway. The nonprofit will continue to work with Austin’s family to engage in community-based fundraising to offset the countless out-of-pocket medical expenses and related costs associated with his diagnosis. Visit here to learn more.
About Help Hope Live:
Celebrating 40 years of service, Help Hope Live is a trusted nonprofit that engages communities in secure, tax-deductible fundraising campaigns for people who need a transplant or are affected by a catastrophic injury or illness. Since 1983, campaigns organized by Help Hope Live have raised over $172 million to pay for expenses not met by insurance.
About the Esther and Pedro Rosenblatt Foundation:
The mission of the Esther and Pedro Rosenblatt Foundation is to provide financial support to organizations worldwide working with children 18 years of age or younger who are ill or disabled. The Foundation awards grants to non-profit and non-governmental organizations providing education, research, and services to enhance the everyday life of children and their families.
