Retired Man Builds And Donates Custom Bicycles For Disabled Children

Dec 08, 2021 by apost team

Playing outside and riding bikes with your friends is one of the great joys of being a child. Everyone should have the opportunity to experience that kind of joy, even if they are disabled or have special needs. One retired man from Louisiana has made it his life's mission to provide custom-made bikes for children who would not normally be able to afford something made specifically for their needs. 

In 2021, Andrew McLindon has been making custom bikes for disabled kids for the past 13 years. He started off by making a bicycle for a family friend, and the gift-giving has grown to include donations to over 430 children. 

In the beginning, McLindon paid for the bikes himself but has since been able to build them entirely off of donations. Because the bikes are custom-made for every child, they typically cost thousands of dollars to build. But each bike is donated to the children and families for free.

One young girl, 4-year-old Kaya Roach, was born with cerebral palsy and epilepsy which greatly limits her mobility. Kaya can only get around on her own by crawling. McLindon built her a custom bike with an extra wheel for balance and straps to keep her upright. There is also a bar attached so her parents can push or pull her on the bicycle as well. 

Kaya, and all of the children that McLindon helps, are incredibly grateful, and the bikes really do make a difference in their lives. The retired Louisiana man says that the joy he witnesses is all the thanks he needs. Keep reading to learn more about this amazing story.

Amanda Roach is Kaya's mom, and she knows her daughter's disability doesn't define who she is. "It's been pretty hard knowing that she may never be able to walk and be like the other children," Amanda said. "But she's still Kaya, and that's all that matters to me." 

Because of Kaya's limited mobility, it would be very difficult for her to ever be able to ride an off-the-shelf bike. The custom bicycle that McLindon made allows her to experience something that she may not have been able to before. "The neighborhood kids thought this bike was the coolest thing they'd ever seen. They love it." McLindon said. "It's all about the inclusion thing, and that's when I knew, this is it. This is what we need to do."

When asked what he thinks about the joyful reactions he sees from each kid that gets a bike, McLindon shared, "It's everything. It's everything. It's what life is about." This man has dedicated time, effort, and his own money to help disabled and special needs kids have fun and enjoy their lives. 

McLindon added, "The things that I get to see with these families of these children is a gift. It's an absolute gift, and it's not lost on me, and I'm very grateful for it. And subsequently, I'll do this forever."

Inside Edition posted the video of Kaya getting to try her bike for the first time, and many commenters left replies. One person said, "This is incredible! It's things like this that can change someone's life. I know so many people with disabilities who never just get to feel the wind on their faces. I love this!"

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What do you think of the work McLindon is doing? Do you enjoy riding bikes? Let us know, and feel free to pass this along to your friends and loved ones that could use some good news in their life.