Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health Children’s Developmental Center Hosts No Such Thing As Impossible® Bike Ride Fundraiser
May 08, 2023
The event raises money to provide adapted bikes to children with developmental delays and disabilities
More than $60,000 was raised to buy adaptive bikes for children with developmental delays and disabilities at the 15th annual No South Thing As Impossible Bike Ride. Supporting the Wheels to Succeed adaptive bike program, the ride was Sunday, April 30, at Pointe-Marie in Baton Rouge and featured three distance options of 10, 40 and 75 miles. All proceeds go to the purchase of bikes.
Through this program, children who may need additional support to ride are able to afford a specially adapted and fitted bike. The bikes offer greater stability and other adaptations but can cost upwards of $3,000, making them cost-prohibitive for many families. Wheels to Succeed, supported by No Such Thing, is able to defray the majority of the bike’s cost, allowing children to participate in this universal childhood experience.
“This program is really special for many of our families,” said Anne Hindrichs, Director of Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health Children’s Developmental Center. “It’s always such a joy to see the smile on the face of a child who may have never had an opportunity to ride a bike before when they first start pedaling.”
No Such Thing As Impossible began thanks to the generosity of the late Jairo Alvarez. Alvarez, an avid cyclist who competed in the Senior Olympics, had a vision that children of all abilities should know the joy and freedom of riding a bicycle. This vision aligned with the mission of Wheels to Succeed, a program that Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health Children’s Developmental Center started in 2007.
“I’m proud to carry on my dad’s legacy by continuing this ride and even prouder to know that our efforts make a material difference in the lives of these wonderful kids,” said Sebastian Alvarez, COO of Alvarez Construction. “The Center’s staff and supporters have always been wonderful to work with, and we’re excited to now have the partnership with Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health.”
For more information on the Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health Children’s Developmental Center, visit ololchildrens.org/developmental-medicine.
About Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health
Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health is a collaborative, coordinated, and child-focused health network that provides patients with more access to physicians and providers specifically trained to care for children. The network includes hospital-based services at the main campus of Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital in Baton Rouge, as well as St. Francis Pediatrics in Monroe, Our Lady of Lourdes Women's and Children's Hospital in Lafayette and Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health Bogalusa. It also connects pediatricians, pediatric specialists and other health providers across our state with clinics in the Baton Rouge region, Hammond, Lake Charles, Lafayette and Monroe. This model of coordinated pediatric healthcare extends vital resources into more communities across Louisiana so families have greater access to expertise close to home. For more information, visit ololchildrens.org.