The Lungarini family of Ansonia.
ANSONIA — Wyatt Lungarini pedaled towards independence while riding a bike for the first time last Sunday.
While riding a bike is a milestone for any kid, it’s an especially big deal for Wyatt.
The 11-year-old boy has autism and Fragile X syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes a range of developmental issues.
The challenges put Wyatt many years behind his peers in terms of milestones many families might take for granted, Wyatt’s Dad, David, said.
“Those are things that a typical parent might never even think about. But for us, it was just an incredible moment seeing him know what the bike was for, putting his feet on the pedals, and making the pedaling motion,” Lungarini said. “Those moments are just indescribable.”
Wyatt received his bike — an AmTryke, specifically designed for people with special needs — from a nonprofit group called the Save the Kid Fund, Inc., based in Preston.
The group’s mission is simple, yet massive: a “charity dedicated to improving the lives of children who have physical, medical, educational and economic challenges.”
The Lungarini family — including mom, Sharri — found out about Save the Kind Fund, Inc. through a family friend who knew Trudy Lasky, a Derby resident who serves on the charity’s board of directors.
Lasky, a volunteer, builds the bikes for kids with special needs out of her garage in Derby.
“I take care of any requests that come through with any of the ACES schools, a special needs school in Trumbull, requests from Yale, and PT from Yale down in Long Wharf,” Lasky said. “If it comes from this part of the state, it gets sent here. I put the bike together and personally deliver it to the family.”
Lasky was inspired to pay it forward to families with special needs children after her own 18-year old son with cerebral palsy was given a bike by a different organization at 6‑years old.
Her son, Nick, built up a strength from riding the bike so strong that he can walk on his own and even ran in the special olympics torch run in 2016.
“Along the way, he’s been lucky to get all of his bikes funded,” Lasky said. “It’s given my son mobility and independence. He wore braces and recently was able to stop wearing them in November. A lot of that is because of the exercise on the bike. That’s why I do what I do because he’s been given this opportunity so I try to do the same for other parents.”
The Save the Kid Fund, Inc. runs on donations funded by companies, grant money, and fundraisers. The charity has been operating for over 30 years and donated nearly 500 bikes to children.
Lasky said she has built at least 50 bikes herself. While the main focus are the bikes, the foundation also does equipment, medical supplies, and therapy that isn’t covered by insurance.
The cost for every bike is around $1,500 with each one customized personally for the child’s specific needs.
Lasky said that due to COVID-19, the demand for bikes have increased while donations have been more scarce.
In the month of July alone, 10 requests were filled. Lasky did the measurements on kids herself since most therapists weren’t accessible because of the pandemic.
“This particular year, we all have tried to step it up because these kids are all home. All of the parents found it to be such a God send because they didn’t have anything else to do,” Lasky said. “It gets them outside, moving, and happy.”
Click here to donate to the Save the Kids Fund.
