Special-Needs Cyclist Raises Money for Bikes for Kids with Disabilities
By: Kyle Leyenberger, KNWA
Updated: December 17, 2012
A special needs boy with a love for bicycles is working with his father
to help other disabled children take part in his passion.
Dimitri Clark was born with cerebral palsy, but it hasn't stopped him from hitting the trails with his dad.
"Riding is my passion," Dimitri says. "I really do love it."
The disease affects his balance, preventing him from being able to ride a two-wheel bike.
"Dimitri had a bike with training wheels, but it's a kids bike and just not able to keep up if he wanted to go with me," says his father, Jimmie Clark. "It was more frustration than fun, and I hate leaving him. I want him to be involved."
The Clarks bought Dimitri a recumbent model with three wheels.
"There's no balancing involved, it's just pedaling and steering," Clark says. "We're able to get outside together and go bike riding and he just loves it. We love doing stuff together. It's really improved our relationship."
After Dimitri showed off the new wheels to the kids in his therapy group, he decided his friends needed a ride of their own.
"That was cool, to see the kids' reactions," Dimitri says. "The common thing I most find when you get on the bike is, they say 'I am free.'"
But the bikes are expensive, so the father/son team created Heroes for Kids to raise money and buy bikes for others.
"The goal is to get families outdoors," Dimitri says.
He and his father organized a 5k run, and visit corporate groups to ask for help. On Monday The Harvest Group donated more than $4,000 to the cause, bringing the total amount raised to more than $14,000.
"I've never thought we would be where we are," Dimitri says. "It's just truly exciting."
Dimitri is ordering bikes and jogging strollers for eight kids, and plans to continue fundraising to help even more.
To find out more about Dimitri's project, click here.
Dimitri Clark was born with cerebral palsy, but it hasn't stopped him from hitting the trails with his dad.
"Riding is my passion," Dimitri says. "I really do love it."
The disease affects his balance, preventing him from being able to ride a two-wheel bike.
"Dimitri had a bike with training wheels, but it's a kids bike and just not able to keep up if he wanted to go with me," says his father, Jimmie Clark. "It was more frustration than fun, and I hate leaving him. I want him to be involved."
The Clarks bought Dimitri a recumbent model with three wheels.
"There's no balancing involved, it's just pedaling and steering," Clark says. "We're able to get outside together and go bike riding and he just loves it. We love doing stuff together. It's really improved our relationship."
After Dimitri showed off the new wheels to the kids in his therapy group, he decided his friends needed a ride of their own.
"That was cool, to see the kids' reactions," Dimitri says. "The common thing I most find when you get on the bike is, they say 'I am free.'"
But the bikes are expensive, so the father/son team created Heroes for Kids to raise money and buy bikes for others.
"The goal is to get families outdoors," Dimitri says.
He and his father organized a 5k run, and visit corporate groups to ask for help. On Monday The Harvest Group donated more than $4,000 to the cause, bringing the total amount raised to more than $14,000.
"I've never thought we would be where we are," Dimitri says. "It's just truly exciting."
Dimitri is ordering bikes and jogging strollers for eight kids, and plans to continue fundraising to help even more.
To find out more about Dimitri's project, click here.
