July 11, 2022 By Carol Britton Meyer
The South Shore Special Needs Athletic Partnership recently hosted Hingham's first learn-to-bike program with iCan Shine, an organization committed to helping people with disabilities experience the thrill and independence of riding a two-wheel bicycle.
"Our daughter participated in an iCan Shine camp up in Maine last summer," SNAP Executive Board Member Katherine Anderson told the Hingham Anchor. "The freedom and involvement she has gained from being able to ride around our neighborhood with our family and her friends is truly immeasurable."
Anderson called the recent bike camp "a smashing success," involving 20 riders under the age of 18 -- 15 of whom were able to ride independently by day 5 -- and "amazing volunteers [40 between the ages of 15 and 75 who ran alongside the riders to keep them safe and provide encouragement]. The iCan Shine team was incredible."
South Shore SNAP Founder and President Warren Pelissier explained that SNAP "is always looking for new, exciting programs for our families," noting that iCan Shine provides two vital components of a special needs child’s life -- confidence and independence. "That was seen from beginning to end," he said.
The bike camp was held at East Elementary School, with four riders participating during each 75-minute time slot. The first three days were for the most part spent in the gym on "roller bikes" -- a patented technology owned by iCan Shine in which the back wheel is replaced with a roller that can slowly be adjusted until it is the size of a standard bike wheel.
"It was really amazing to see the bonds created over the course of the week," Anderson said. "Our community really stepped up to help out."
"Tandem Tuesday" was a definite favorite. "An iCan Shine program director rode each participant on the front of their tandem bike to really get an understanding of what they needed to focus on (leaning to one side, pedaling more consistently, etc.)," Anderson explained.
As with all well-run programs, "this one came at a steep cost," Pelissier explained. "The reason we were able to run this program and defray most of the costs for the parents was due to a very generous series of donations."
As an example, Jannette Harrington, a SNAP Board member who ran the summer program for years and who is also a teacher at Plymouth River School, lost her husband, Bill Harrington, last year.
"Bill and Jannette’s passion was, and is, to help young students in our community. She and her family directed donations in Bill’s name to South Shore SNAP, which was very generous," Pelissier said. "It is through these funds that this year's program was possible and that future bike camps will be made available to our community. All our SNAP families, mentors, and board members thank the Harringtons. The kids who participated now ride independently, with Bill watching over them."
Pelissier attributed the success of this year's bike camp to the tireless work of Anderson, the SNAP board, and the program's "unbelievable" mentors.
"Our mission is to continue to find and make available programs like this to our community. When you think of the joy on the faces of the family from Tennessee that participated, you realize two things -- first that this program [reaches beyond Hingham and surrounding communities] while on the other hand demonstrating a truly unmet need when a family is willing to travel from Tennessee to Hingham to find a program like this for their special needs child. We’re excited about what we’ve done over the last eight years, while realizing that we still have a long way to go."
The positive feedback about the camp was heartwarming --"I just want to let you know how well [my grandson] is doing. He rode each day over the long weekend. His mother . . . was so impressed that from Monday to Saturday he went from being a total non-rider to riding with confidence in school parking lots! He has the starting down and seems to be very comfortable and confident," a proud grandmother shared.
According to a very pleased and proud mother, "This whole program was absolutely amazing. I can't thank you all enough for everything you’ve done for [my son]. I took him [riding] yesterday (clearly, we need to work on turns because it was more straight shots and then he’d plop his feet down) and I asked him how he felt when he rode a bike. And he yelled with happiness, 'Like a man!' It cracked me up and warmed my heart, too."
The volunteers were as pleased as bike camp participants -- "It was so rewarding to see all these cyclists make HUGE progress in such a short time. The supportive atmosphere was amazing. I am so inspired by these students, and I had so much fun. This was a great opportunity to contribute to my new community," one of the volunteers shared.
A volunteer team comprised of a mother and her two high-school age daughters also enjoyed the experience. "It was such a great week and incredibly rewarding for my girls and me," she said. "We would love to come back next year!"
