Accelerate Magazine July 2020

WAUKESHA COUNTY BUSINESS ALLIANCE, INC. | WAUKESHA.ORG Variety - The Children’s Charity of Wisconsin is a nonprofit organization celebrating 85 years of unwavering support to children living with physical or developmental special needs. We do so by providing children with the supportive and adaptive equipment needed for enhanced mobility and the opportunity to live a life without limits. Variety funds specialized ‘adaptive’ bicycles, walkers, wheelchairs, therapeutic strollers and other devices which are often too cost-prohibitive for families and rarely covered by insurance. On average, an adaptive bicycle can cost approximately $2,000. Through partnerships with physical therapists and social workers throughout the state, Variety is able to identify children who would greatly benefit from specialized devices. But none of our work is possible without the generosity of our community. It is through our partnerships with countless generous individuals and organizations that we are able to raise the dollars needed to fund these important projects. This ongoing support allows us the ability to provide adaptive equipment – equipment that changes lives for children like Francis. Francis was born without any legs or forearms. He crawls and sits up independently using his upper arms and core. He also uses a power wheelchair for mobility. His parents, Jon and Laura, wanted to give Francis a way to play independently. They also wanted to give Francis another way to exercise and transport himself without relying solely on his family or a power wheelchair. Jon and Laura thought an adaptive bike would be a great alternative for Francis, so they contacted Variety for help. Variety partnered with a “Dream Team” of engineering masterminds to custom build Francis’ adaptive bike. Through a collaboration with Harley- Davidson, Emery’s Bike Shop, Hanger Clinic, and Milsco, the "Dream Team" worked diligently for more than a year to custom build an adaptive bike with the necessary modifications for ENHANCING MOBILITY TO PROVIDE A LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS HOLLY NELSON Marketing Director, Variety - The Children's Charity of Wisconsin 6