‘When the greenway was finished and our family could cycle on it my heart was breaking for Dylan’

A Wilkinstown mum who helped set up an initiative that will see children with special needs have access to a specially adapted trike says she believes the new greenway should be for everyone to enjoy.

Last Sunday Tina Halpenny organised a ‘Try a Trike’ event at Park Beo Greenway in Wilkinstown with Louth Disability Cycling Group in conjunction with Variety the children's charity of Ireland.

The fun afternoon afforded families and their children the opportunity to ride a trike custom made to suit the needs of a disabled child.

Tina who founded the Wilkinstown Disability Cycling Club became passionate about the idea after struggling to find an alternative to a conventional bicycle for her 16 year old son, Dylan.

The trikes are part of Variety Ireland’s Recycle Mobility Programme which is supported and co-funded by Minister Anne Rabbitte and The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

These special trikes help children with mobility issues to be much more independent, take part in outdoor activities and opens up opportunities to travel, given they are fully collapsible it allows them to fit into the boot of most vehicles and the aircraft hold very easily.

They also ensure with children with mobility issues can join in outdoor cycling activities together with their family and friends which helps improve their mental and physical well-being

The caring mum who is now the charity's link for Meath says she wants to help other families avail of funding for the trikes "that helps children to be more independent and opens up opportunities to travel."

"Despite the weather, there was a fantastic turnout from families and children of all abilities at Park Beo," said Tina." Louth Disability provides trikes of all shapes and sizes that gave the children a fantastic opportunity to try a trike out," she added.

"Kevin Duffy from Variety, the Children's Charity of Ireland was on hand to give information to families about how they could take part in a recyclable programme. Eimear and Brendan Doughty of Park Beo were also there and have been absolutely fantastic.

"The smiles all around on every child and teenager's face were just amazing. The whole day was just fantastic. There were so many people enquiring about the trikes.

"When I spoke to families on the day I explained that I believed the greenway should be for everyone to enjoy and that it was all about inclusion so our children can feel included in a safe environment.

"I was looking for a trike for a long time for my son and I wanted to share my story of how I came across this charity and how supportive they were.

Explaining her journey with accessing the specially made trikes, the determined mum said:

"Dylan just couldn't manage despite all of the work we did with him, just to cycle your ordinary bike," said Tina.

"It would be too dangerous," she added.

"When the greenway was finished and our whole family could cycle out on it my heart was breaking for Dylan who couldn't and no one will ever tell me Dylan can't do something so I started doing research.

"It was proving very hard to get a trike that would accommodated Dylan and suit Dylan's needs.

"Doors were being closed in my face left right and centre and I was losing hope and I sat up late one night and started googling and a few things popped out but this one, Variety, just hit me. I got a letter from the doctor about how much this would benefit Dylan.

"I applied through the recyclable programme for a trike, that when your child finishes with it you then pass it on to another family and thankfully we got the green light."

Tina and her husband Declan made a significant financial contribution towards Dylan's trike that they are hoping will be ready for the teen in July and will be his to keep into adulthood. However, Tina was successful in accessing funding that will allow local families of children with additional needs access to a trike that will be stored at Park Beo.

"I want to see other children out on the greenway on trikes," said Tina who is also mum to Evan (20) and Erin Rose (10).

"I wanted to share my knowledge and experience to help other families," she added.

"We have so many local schools with ASD classes and the greenway right on our doorstep."

"Another family in Meath is finished with their trike and are going to pass it on to my club so there will be two trikes available at Park Beo which is amazing."

Through Tina's passion and dedication, Meath is now paired with Antrim in an initiative started by Variety, the Children's Charity that will encourage the two counties to join together to share events and support one another.

"The kids will have the opportunity with their families to try out these trikes and someone from the charity will be there to talk to families about applying for funding.

Tina and her husband Declan thought something might be wrong with Dylan's hearing when he was three and a half and sought medical advice. However they were unprepared for the journey they would soon find themselves on as the Wilkinstown mum explains:

"The doctor said have good news an bad news. The good news is that Dylan passed the hearing test 100 percent in both ears. I said that is great and I asked if it was fluid. She said that is the bad news, there was no trace of fluid, did anyone mention autism. I nearly collapsed because there were no signs.

"We had a long journey home and it snowballed from there and we have had to fight for everything a long the way."

Tina says encouraging a child with autism to communicate can be a challenge but it's worth it.

"It was a lonely road and there was no one there to counsel me. Nobody taught me this but I say it to every other mother I meet along the way now, to get down to their level like you would with any other child," said the mum of three.

"Don't let them use your arm as an extension, get down to their level that they can see your face," she added.

"Otherwise they will never ever try and communicate.

"I sat on the floor every day with Dylan all through fun and play. He'd jump ten steps and then there would be a little blip and he'd go back eight and you'd feel all of your hard work was gone out the window.

"But Dylan has come on leaps and bounds, he is a fantastic young man. He is known as the big gentle giant and he is a gorgeous child.

"He loves nature and old historic buildings, he used to love visiting Slane Castle when I worked as a tour guide there.

"Autism is a broad spectrum, not one size fits all but each child despite their challenges is beautiful and they teach you so much, they teach you how to slow down."

* For more information see www.varietyireland.org