"Bike-Ability Blast" for Special-Needs Children to Be Held on May 10 at Wolfson Rehab

Jacksonville, Florida, May 5, 2008 -- Wolfson Children's Rehabilitation is sponsoring its second annual "Bike-Ability Blast," an adapted bicycle rally that will allow children with special needs such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, developmental delays and other physical limitations to actually test-ride adapted bicycles. The event will be held from 9 am to noon on Saturday, May 10, 2008, at the Drew Bradbury Center, located in the Aetna Building, 841 Prudential Drive, Suite 140.

Adapted bicycles are available for all ages and all disabilities and include such features as high back and head supports; straps to secure feet; arm pedals for those who can't pedal with their legs; a device that allows shoulder steering, head control support, parent steering and braking controls; and more. The bikes can also be adapted to the child's size as he or she grows.

"These bikes let kids with disabilities do something normal," says Elisabeth Federico, PT, a physical therapist at Wolfson Rehab and the "Bike-Ability Blast" coordinator.

While helpful for special needs children, the specialized bikes are expensive, costing up to $3,000. Insurance companies don't pay for these bikes, so the "Bike-Ability Blast" gives parents and children an opportunity to examine and test-drive an adapted bicycle before buying one. Information for funding resources will also be available to parents.

The "Bike-Ability Blast" is also a chance for business or private sponsors to provide funding for bicycles for children who might not otherwise be able to afford one.

Safe Kids Northeast Florida/Wolfson Children's Hospital will provide free helmets and giveaways for children attending the event, and information on bicycle safety will be provided. Adapted bicycle vendors, including Freedom Concepts, AmTryke, Rifton, Triad and Quickie, will have their bikes on display. The sponsor of the event is Chick-Fil-A.

For more information about the "Bike-Ability Blast" or how you or your business can help to fund an adapted bicycle for a child, call Wolfson Rehab at 346.0394. For more information about Wolfson Rehab, visit www.wchjax.com/rehab.