CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- Seats filled at the Brann's Steakhouse in Cascade as 'American Business Clubs,' otherwise known as AMBUCS, put on its fourth-annual charity luncheon to raise money to help provide AmTrykes free of charge to those in need.
"Most people, particularly with small children, they have the need they've tapped out, " said AmTrykes chairman, Norm VanSickle. " They've spent all their money on treatment to this point. The therapeutic equipment is hard to come by. That's where we come in."
AmTrykes are designed to help the disabled ride with ease. They're stable, adjustable, and can eventually be passed on to another rider when needed.
So far this year, AMBUCS has given away 12 of these fully-adjustable AmTrykes. Wednesday, AMBUCS raised more than $5,000 to keep the effort going.
Jacob Geer, 12, who struggles with Battens disease, is just one of many kids AMBUCS has helped. "For him to get his bike, it gave him the freedom to be just like the other kids," said Jacob's mother, Chris Geer. "It's amazing to see him ride up and down the sidewalk and be just like them."
AMBUCS gave Jacob his first AmTryke in July of 2008. H\he received another in July 2012 when he outgrew his first one.
Nationally, AMBUCS has given away 10,000 AmTrykes in an effort to provide those in need with therapy and, even more importantly, some fun.
