Adaptive Bicycles

>> IT'S RECOMMENDED THAT SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS GET AT LEAST 16 MINUTES OF MODERATE TO VIGOROUS ACTIVITY EVERY DAY FOR CHILDREN WITH MUSCLE DEGENERATION, ACTIVITIES LIKE RUNNING SWIMMING OR BIKING ARE EASIER SAID THAN DONE AS WGCUS CULTURE AND CONNECTIONS. REPORTER ELISABETH ANDARGE LEARNED ONE LOCAL GROUP IS MAKING SURE THAT EVERY CHILD GETS THE CHANCE TO ENJOY A DAILY SESSION OF PLAY. >> WE'RE STILL RODRIGUEZ IS AN 11 YEAR-OLD WHO LOVES SCIENCE AND IT'S VERY OBSERVANT. SOMETIMES I COULD SEE MY COUSINS AND STUFF LIKE RIDING BIKES. >> A REALLY FAST. BUT I JUST CAN'T REALLY GO THAT FAST. >> IF YOU LIKE THAT, ARE HE HAS DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY, A GENETIC DISORDER THAT CAUSES PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE WEAKNESS. RUNNING IS HARDER. NOW. >> JUMPING TO YOU'VE GOT TO BE SO MOST DAYS HE WATCHES >> UNTIL NOW, HIS MOTHER, DANIELLE, US RODRIGUEZ STANDS NEARBY AS MARCEL IS FITTED ONTO A BIKE. >> JUST THE ABILITY TO JUST MOVE FREELY AND DO OTHER THINGS THAT KIDS CAN'T DO MY JOB AND RUN BASIC THINGS LIKE THAT. HE'S NOT ABLE TO DO. BUT RIDING A BIKE. THAT'S SOMETHING NEW AND. THAT'S THAT'S WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW. HE'S EXCITED. >> PHYSICAL THERAPISTS MARTHA MAN CAN HAS WORKED WITH SOME OF THESE CHILDREN FOR YEARS. SHE SAYS THESE BIKES CAN MAKE AN IMMEDIATE DIFFERENCE. IT'S >> AN INCREDIBLE GIFT THAT THIS ORGANIZATION CAN RAISE THE FUNDS AND TAKE THAT BURDEN AWAY FROM THE FAMILIES. SO THE FAMILIES CAN JUST SEE THEIR CHILDREN DO IT. KIDS ARE SUPPOSED TO DO AND THAT'S RIGHT. BIKES AND HAVE FUN. >> A CUSTOM ADAPTIVE BIKE, LIKE MORE CELLS CAN COST AROUND. 3500 RARELY COVERED BY INSURANCE IN FORT MYERS TO NONPROFITS ARE WORKING TO CHANGE THAT. THE DONATION FROM ROBBIE'S RIDERS AND GRANT THESE CHARITIES TOOK PLACE IN FRONT OF SANIBEL, CAPTIVA COMMUNITY BANK AND EACH ONE IS NOT ONLY FITTED FOR THE SPECIFIC CHILD. EACH ONE IS FREE. >> THEY SEE A INCREDIBLY EMPOWERED AND SO PROUD OF THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY'VE SEEN SIBLINGS AND FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS RIDE BIKES AND THEY DON'T HAVE ONE. AND SO NOW THEY CAN BE OUT THERE WITH THERE, THEIR LITTLE GROUP IN AND HAVE FUN ALONG WITH THEM. SO THEY ARE SO EXCITED. >> WE HAVE GOT KIDS LITERALLY. IT SAID MOUTH. THEY WILL GO BY THEMSELVES. >> FOR JOHN JOHANNA MAN WHO HAS HELPED ORGANIZE THIS FOR YEARS. THE FEELING NEVER GETS OLD. >> THEY SAY. YOU MEASURE YOUR LIFE. BY THE NUMBER OF BREATH YOU TAKE. YOU DON'T. THE MEASURE YOUR LIFE. BY THE NUMBER OF TIMES YOUR BREATH IS TAKEN AWAY. >> FOR WGCU NEWS, I'M ELIZABETH ANDARGE