Whenever 3-year-old Madison Lynch’s brothers ride their bikes around the yard, she wants to join in.

Madison has a tricycle, but she’s unable to push the pedals and ride with her siblings because of limitations including connective tissue disorder.

Now, thanks to her teachers at the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit, Madison will be able to join in riding with her brothers this summer.

“She’s never been strong enough to pedal,” her mother Megan said. “She always is trying to join in, but she cries because she can’t.”

The Intermediate Unit is teaming with the Carbon Lehigh Special Needs Foundation and a nonprofit from Pittsburgh to purchase adaptive bikes for 12 IU students from the Carbon County area. They’ll be delivered June 12.

The two organizations are providing the bikes, which cost $1,800, to families at no cost, and replacing them when the children outgrow them.

Every aspect of the bike is customizable to meet the child’s size and special needs, and they get to choose the color.

While the students look at it as just a bike, it’s actually a therapeutic device which allows them to exercise outside, or inside with the bike on a stand.

The wheels are motorized so they can be controlled by a parent. There’s a handle in the back and a steering assistance bar so parents can help guide the bike.

“Some of these students are 8-9 years old and they’ve never had an opportunity to ride their own bikes,” said Deborah Popson, director of special programs and services for CLIU 21.

“They will be able to participate in a family activity that they may not have been able to do so far in their life.”

The students recently had a chance to test out the bikes at the IU as a representative from the company measured them so their bikes can be customized.

Students like Madison hopped on and started pedaling right away, to the delight of their parents and teachers.

Popson said it’s phenomenal to be able to see the children get the opportunity to ride their bikes.

“I’m so blessed to be able to have the opportunity to provide such a great thing to our children,” she said.

The funding for the bikes was made possible through the Carbon Lehigh Special Needs Foundation and the Variety Foundation of Pittsburgh.

The Special Needs Foundation is supported through an annual golf tournament, as well as donations from teachers and other patrons.

Variety Pittsburgh is dedicated to ensuring all kids get to enjoy their childhood, regardless of limitations. Variety board member Mickey Sgro said it’s important for every kid to have a chance to ride a bike.

“This allows them to go out with their classmates, ride with their parents. We just give them a tool so the kid can be a kid, just like any other child.

His organization has donated more than $1 million worth of equipment to children with special needs through the years. In addition to the adaptive bicycles, their donations also include adaptive strollers and communications devices.

“I like to say they’re therapy machines, they’re not bikes, but the kid’s gonna have fun thinking that’s a bike,” he said.

When Variety gives away their bikes, it will be a full-on celebration. Sgro said he got involved with the organization after visiting one of the events and seeing the impact which the donations had on the children.

“We make it special for the kids because it’s a special event. It’s something you won’t forget,” he said.

This year, Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit decided to focus on 12 students from Carbon County. Next year, they hope to help the same number in Lehigh County.

And parents like Megan Lynch are thrilled that the IU is giving their children an opportunity which all kids deserve — to ride their own bike.

“I’m so thankful. She’s going to do so well with it, and I think she’s going to get a lot stronger,” Lynch said.

The bikes will be presented June 12

For more information on the Carbon Lehigh Special Needs Foundation, visit https://www.clsncf.org. For more information on Variety, visit https://www.varietypittsburgh.org.