Special tricycle has Hope Mills boy riding in style
A 5-year-old boy from Hope Mills had been waiting for months for a tricycle. On Tuesday, he was overjoyed to finally get one.
Marshall Smith was born with cerebral palsy and has faced challenges in his young life.
Doctors said he would never walk or talk, but they were wrong. He's making progress toward both of those abilities and can now pedal around and enjoy the thrill of riding like other kids.
"It takes a little of the burden off of his family and allows him to work on that endurance and just overall strength in a fun and enjoyable way," said physical therapist Emily Bradshaw.
Marshall's two siblings enjoy riding their bicycles, but Marshall has struggled to keep up. His long-awaited AmTryke enables him to ride by their side.
"This gives him the opportunity to be able to keep up with them and feel a little bit like them," said mother Sherry Smith.
The AmTryke costs roughly $1,500. It is an adaptive tricycle; it helps riders who might otherwise struggle to fully rotate the pedal.
A chapter of the AMBUCS Foundation provided the ride for Marshall. Debbie Wheeler wants to start an AMBUCS chapter in the Cumberland County area.
"I only need five people," Wheeler said. "Five. That's it. Then we could start it up and get more trykes."
Marshall is a lucky kid as he's gotten his tryke. However, there is a wish list for kids just like him all over the country to get one. You can find out how to help those kids here.
