Custom-made bicycles get people with disabilities on the move
FRANKLIN PARK, Allegheny County — Skylar Bell has a lot more mobility now than he has ever had thanks to the donation of an adaptive bicycle to him and his family, which will help the 9-year-old get around even though he can’t see.
Skylar was one of seven people to get an adaptive bicycle Thursday morning, April 16, through Variety – The Children’s Charity’s My Bike program, which gives them to youths with disabilities so they can experience things without being limited by difficulties getting around.
Variety is a nonprofit organization based in Pittsburgh, which “empowers children with disabilities to live life to the fullest.”
Skylar, who is blind, needs assistance to get around, but his mother, Sierra Bell, said her son learned to ride an adaptive bicycle at the Western Pennsylvania School For Blind Children, so the ride is the perfect gift at the perfect time.
“We can use the bike to get him moving more. More exercise, more outdoor events, going to parks,” she said. “He’s never been able to see. He’s always been blind. He’s always been hesitant to walk around without equipment, so this is a huge step in mobility.”
Variety started the My Bike program in 2012 and now partners with organizations to get adaptive bicycles into the hands of people with mobility needs.
On Thursday, the organization presented seven bicycles to youths, each one specially made for its recipient, at Orchard Hill Church in Franklin Park Township.
Deanna David, director of programs for Variety, said the organization gets a letter of recommendation from a person’s doctor or therapist to begin the process of getting them an adaptive bicycle. Variety also gets connections through intermediate units around the state, David said, and the organization works with Blackburn’s to have each bicycle made in a way that complements its rider’s needs.
“There’s a fitting process where they try it out. They make sure they have all the different measurements and the right accessories so it’s fully customized for each child,” David said. “Blackburn’s is our partner. We order through them. They do all the safety checks.”
Staff from Blackburn’s, a medical supply store based in Tarentum, demonstrated to parents and caregivers how to disassemble and reassemble the bicycles and how to use them safely.
Tom Baker, CEO of Variety, also said Al’s Bike Drive helped raise the money to purchase the bicycles to give away. Al Todd, of Al’s Bike Drive, said the organization has funded the donation of around 60 bikes through Variety over the past five years. David said the partnership to give the bicycles to families is a combined effort.
Each bicycle — which are all more like tricycles because they have three wheels — comes equipped with handles extending from the back of the seat, so a caregiver can guide the rider, who can pedal and do a little steering of their own.
After the demonstration, Todd led the youths in a bicycle parade around the church’s hall while riding a bicycle of his own. David said she and the rest of the staff of Variety, who deliver the bikes throughout the state up to twice a month, enjoy the giveaway days.
“Presentation days are always the best days,” David said.
David and Baker asked the parents and caregivers in attendance to share the impact of mobility devices on their family’s lives, which got a response from Lori Scears, of Valencia.
Scears commented her son, 21-year-old Luke Scears, would be receiving his second bicycle from Variety on Thursday after outgrowing the one he got in 2018 when he was a teenager. She said bicycling is one of the few activities Luke can do completely independently and he frequently rides it to his grandmother’s home and to the playground when the weather cooperates.
“He can actually go to the playground … and he gets to do that all by himself,” Scears said. “It’s an incredible opportunity for our kids.”
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Tom Baker, chief executive officer of Variety, talks about the importance of donations during an adaptive bike gift from Variety and other donors at Orchard Hill Church in Wexford on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Jeff Rukas goes over some of the safety features of the bikes during an adaptive bike gift event where families, including those from Butler County, received bikes from Variety and other donors at Orchard Hill Church in Wexford on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Jeff Rukas, left, and Jeremy Venanzi go over safety features of the bikes during an adaptive bike gift event where families, including those from Butler County, received bikes from Variety and other donors at Orchard Hill Church in Wexford on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Jeff Rukas helps Savannah Dotson, middle, from Pittsburgh get fitted during an adaptive bike gift event where families, including those from Butler County, received bikes from Variety and other donors at Orchard Hill Church in Wexford on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Jeff Rukas helps Savannah Dotson, middle, from Pittsburgh get fitted during an adaptive bike gift event where families, including those from Butler County, received bikes from Variety and other donors at Orchard Hill Church in Wexford on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Skylar Bell, middle, from Seven Fields gets fitted for his new bike with the help of Jeremy Venanzi, left, and his caregiver Tim Larkin during an adaptive bike gift event where families, including those from Butler County, received bikes from Variety and other donors at Orchard Hill Church in Wexford on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Skylar Bell, middle, from Seven Fields gets fitted for his new bike with the help of Jeremy Venanzi, left, and his caregiver Tim Larkin during an adaptive bike gift event where families, including those from Butler County, received bikes from Variety and other donors at Orchard Hill Church in Wexford on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Kyrie Li from Mars is pushed by his mom JieQin Yang as he rides around with his new bike during an adaptive bike gift event where families, including those from Butler County, received bikes from Variety and other donors at Orchard Hill Church in Wexford on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Kyrie Li from Mars plays with a toy he received during an adaptive bike gift event where families, including those from Butler County, received bikes from Variety and other donors at Orchard Hill Church in Wexford on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Kyrie Li, middle, from Mars rides in a parade during an adaptive bike gift event where families, including those from Butler County, received bikes from Variety and other donors at Orchard Hill Church in Wexford on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Skylar Bell, middle, from Mars rides in a parade during an adaptive bike gift event where families, including those from Butler County, received bikes from Variety and other donors at Orchard Hill Church in Wexford on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Kyrie Li, middle, from Mars is applauded and gets his picture taken as he rides in a parade during an adaptive bike gift event where families, including those from Butler County, received bikes from Variety and other donors at Orchard Hill Church in Wexford on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Kyrie Li, middle, from Mars gives Eric Spiker a low-five as he rides in a parade during an adaptive bike gift event where families, including those from Butler County, received bikes from Variety and other donors at Orchard Hill Church in Wexford on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Kyrie Li, middle, from Mars gives Eric Spiker a low-five as he rides in a parade during an adaptive bike gift event where families, including those from Butler County, received bikes from Variety and other donors at Orchard Hill Church in Wexford on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Kyrie Li, center, of Mars, gives Eric Spiker a low-five as he rides in a parade during an adaptive bike gift event where families, including those from Butler County, received bikes from Variety – The Children’s Charity’s and other donors at Orchard Hill Church on Thursday, April 16. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
