Owasso Ambucs: Bringing Smiles and Inclusiveness To Our Community

By Alexia Sang

For most people, riding a bike is simply just a part of growing up. Almost everyone has fond memories of riding a bike down the street with family or friends, and some of my favorite memories as a kid come from camping trips where me and my younger sister would ride around the campground with our friends, laughing and playing games. Riding a bike is such a normal part of most people’s lives that we often take it for granted. 

Owasso Ambucs is a non-profit organization in our community that is one of hundreds of Ambuc chapters across the country. Members of our Owasso Ambucs chapter volunteer their time to help bring mobility and independence to people with disabilities in our community through the help of the AmTryke Therapeutic Tricycle Program. AmTryke’s are adaptive tricycles made custom to fit the needs of kids, adults and veterans with disabilities. 

When asked why she initially joined Ambucs, Wendy Bond, an Ambucs member who helped to found the Owasso Ambucs chapter, explains that her favorite memories as a kid were of riding a bike with her brothers and neighbors. 

Little girl gets her AmTryke fitted by Owasso Ambucs member Ryan Miller. Photograph taken by Larry Sang.

Bond recalls, “I remember that we’d all get back home and my sister [Sonya] would be sitting on the front porch alone. She had down syndrome and so she couldn’t ride a typical bicycle.” 

Ambucs isn’t just about mobility and independence, it’s about inclusiveness. AmTrykes give kids the experience of getting to ride a bike and being able to go out and have fun with friends. 

Bond explains, “The reason I am an Ambuc is because I don’t want to see the Sonya’s of the world sitting on their front porch.” 

For those lucky enough to attend an AmTryke giveaway and see the smiles on kids' faces when they climb on an AmTryke for the first time, the benefit of these adaptive bikes is undeniable.

“It really helps their self confidence because it helps them be included and it gives them a sense of pride that they have the ability to ride a bike,” says Bond.

But at any AmTryke giveaway, the smiles don’t just appear on the faces of the children receiving an AmTryke.

Bond claims, “My favorite part of an AmTryke giveaway is the look on the parent’s faces. I’m the parent of a child with an AmTryke, and seeing the tears and smiles of the parents watching their children overcome something and do something for the first time. I just can’t explain how it makes you feel to be a part of that.” 

Owasso AmTryke recipient getting to ride his AmTryke for the first time. Photograph taken by Alexia Sang.

Melissa Lay, Owasso Ambucs Chapter President, explains, “We’re all volunteers, and don’t get paid for our time, but any time you put a child on a bike and get to see them ride it for the first time it’s priceless.”

Not only do AmTryke’s help with inclusiveness, but they are therapeutic.

Elise Branstetter, a physical therapist who has had many patients receive AmTryke, explains, “Kids who can’t ride a standard bicycle can quickly learn to ride an adapted AmTryke. It helps improve their strength and coordination, which are two important components to all sports related activities.” 

Ambucs has had a major impact in our community, and anyone interested in joining their cause can, regardless of age.

Lay states, “My boys go to Owasso High School, and they saved up their money from mowing lawns one summer in order to purchase an AmTryke for a little girl.” 

In order for the chapter to give away an AmTryke, first they have to raise the money and then they have to build the AmTryke. The Owasso Ambucs chapter is always looking for donations and volunteers in order to reach their goal of giving away 50 or more AmTrykes each year. The chapter also has need based scholarships for college students studying to become a Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech Pathologist or Audiologist. 

For information on scholarships, upcoming events, or for anyone interested in finding ways to help their cause: follow Owasso Ambucs on Facebook or visit their website owassoambucs.org.