Variety the Children’s Charity partnered once again with Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 and Blackburn’s, provider of medical equipment and supplies, to present eight adaptive bikes, along with helmets, to local kids with disabilities.

The presentation to the kids and their families was made Thursday at the CLIU 21 offices in Walnutport.

“The best day is always presentation day for us to give out the bikes that are needed by children,” Variety CEO Tom Baker said. “We started our giveaways of special needs equipment with tents in communities over 80 years ago.”

The adaptive bikes come in three sizes: small (ages 4-7); medium (ages 7-12); and large (teenagers and adults).

All families will get a video on how the bike works and how to take the bike apart for transport. The bikes also can be used as stationary bikes at home.

The recipients of the adaptive bikes were from Carbon, Lehigh and Monroe counties.

From Carbon were Bella Colacrai, Cora Evans, Albrightsville, and Raxan Singh, Nesquehoning. From Lehigh were Justin Farah Alakel, Josiah LeRoy, Ashlyn Tatasciore, Emmaus, and Sebastian Galvan Taveras, Allentown. From Monroe County was Nevaeh Baily.

When Variety’s Adaptive Equipment Program kicked off the My Bike Program in November 2012, the goal was to dramatically increase the organization’s impact, visibility, credibility and engagement in the community.

From the moment the first bike was presented, the community passionately rallied behind the program. Since then, more than 9,100 adaptive bikes, adaptive strollers and communication devices have been presented to eligible kids throughout Pennsylvania.

My Bike has demonstrated that when the needs of children with disabilities are prioritized, it is possible to meet something so fundamental to childhood as ensuring that all kids can ride a bike — regardless of their disability. The equipment provides an immediate impact and newfound firsts, as parents constantly say that the equipment is not only changing their child’s whole life, but receiving it gives families hope for the future.

Variety now has three adaptive equipment programs that are meeting unmet needs for kids and their families: the My Bike Program, which provides Rifton adaptive bikes; the My Stroller Program, which provides Convaid EZ Rider adaptive strollers; and the MyVoice Program, which provides a restricted iPad with a prescribed communication app.