Gala sees boy get special bike

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This article was published 30/06/2023 (732 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Henry Manza’s face beamed brighter than the sun when he saw his new red bicycle. It was a gift he had been waiting for since he was three years old and now finally he would be able to play with his friends.

Six-year-old Henry has arthrogryposis multiplex congenital amyoplasia, a condition where his limbs are stiff and difficult to move, and since October 2022 he has been waiting to get a special tricycle that will allow him play as any other child would.

“You have no idea how special this is not just for Henry but for me too,” said Heidi Manza, Henry’s mother. “This is amazing for Henry because this will open up so much mobility opportunities for him and for us together as a family to be able to go out and do things together as something as simple as most kids just to go to the corner store will be really simple for us now that he can drive and it normalizes things for him as well.”

Manza said the bike is therapeutic physically and mentally. She said it will boost his self confidence and allow him to play with his friends when they ride their bikes too. She said to see Henry so happy makes her happy too and helps with her mental health as well.

“When your child is born with a disability there is no pamphlet to tell you how to deal with a child with disability and Henry has been my rock. He’s taught me so much and he’s shown me so much love and patience and understanding and just joy. And to watch him – this is nothing, he’s just taking it in right now, he’s going to be cruising with this (bike), you’ll see.”

Henry has decided he will name his new bike “Tiger” and the first thing he will do is race his parents when he gets home. He said his favourite thing on his bike was the squeaky tiger head and the bell.

“(I feel) good,” he said.

Manza said it wasn’t cost effective for her family to buy a bike for Henry because of the rising cost of living and other expenses. She said it’s a miracle and amazing that the Steinbach Community Foundation gave the money to build this bike.

“We’re just so appreciative of it and when Henry outgrows it, we’re going to pay it forward to the next child. I’m sorry for being all emotional here but this is a special, special event for us and a very special moment,” she said.

Henry received his bike on June 21 during a grants gala held by the Steinbach Community Foundation. The foundation donated $4,078 to Children’s Rehabilitation which was able to purchase the bike for the little Blumenort resident.

“For some (children with disabilities) it’s their whole world. They’ve been dreaming of (getting a bike). It’s something that gives them freedom to do something independently. They’re able to not only improve their physical strength but they’re able to socially interact with other community members that are out biking. It just makes them feel like they’re part of the community just like any other kid,” said Mia Dunn, fund development officer for Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation.

The design and construction of the bike was done by Freedom Concepts, a Winnipeg Based company that exclusively builds bicycles for disabled children. It took them four weeks to build Henry’s bike.

“Every bike that we build is a one off. The children get to pick their colour they get to pick their squeaky toy, the colour of their bell, that sort of thing. The physiotherapists that we work with pick all the accessories that have to go onto the bike in order for it to work with the child,” said Larry Penner, customer service manager/Manitoba territory manager for Freedom Concepts.

Some of the features of Henry’s bike include a head rest, straps to hold him upright, a rear steering and braking mechanism, the back is cupped to give support, and the seat moves up and down to a maximum of 12 inches which allows Henry to grow with the bike. Penner estimates the bike could last Henry for about four or five years before he out grows it.

“You won’t see it now because Henry’s here by himself, but when Henry’s at school and he’s riding his bike around school that gives him the mobility to move around with all the other students,” said Penner.

“The social aspect of it as well Henry is then viewed like other kids. He’s doing what everybody else does just naturally.”

Manza said Henry will have to be supervised hands on in the beginning but she believes he will be able to ride his bike on his own with no help from her or her husband. Although Henry’s condition is a form of muscular dystrophy, his condition won’t get worse.

“It can only get better and that’s with all the therapies and this bike is going to be a big therapy for Henry. Henry’s gone through seven surgeries so far and he’ll have to go through more and we know that and that’s OK because each surgery makes him better. This bike is going to be a healthy exercise and it’s also going to teach him mobility and how to be ambidextrous.”

Other organizations given grants that evening by the Steinbach Community Foundation were STARS for their training program ($5,000); Serving Seniors the Pat Porter Centre for new flooring ($14,419); and Total Freedom Addictions Recovery Centre for renovations ($677).