Missouri Families for Effective Autism Treatment (MO-FEAT) is sponsoring Lose the Training Wheels Bike Camp at Kennedy Catholic this week. MO-FEAT was incorporated in 1997 as a Missouri not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization in response to the lack of effective treatment available to children living with autism throughout Missouri.
Lose the Training Wheels is an amazing camp that teaches children with special needs how to ride a bike. Approximately half of the children in the camp have autism spectrum disorders. The children are ages 8 and up and have demonstrated difficulty with mastering riding a bike independently. The camp provides modified bikes to help the campers gain confidence as they learn to ride.
Volunteers are needed to support the campers physically and emotionally as they take on this task. Seven Kennedy students are volunteering at the camp this week. When asked why the students were giving their time this summer to the camp Adriana Long, a rising junior at Kennedy said "The kids are all really cute and happy, it is totally worth it." Sami Hessler agrees, "It is awesome to see their progress." Dan McCune has had experience working with children with special needs at Kennedy Catholic's Special Olympics – Challenge Day hosted on campus every year. The volunteers are the children's biggest cheerleaders. The goal is to have the children riding independently by this Friday.
As an outsider looking in, it is so fulfilling to see the young men and women of the Kennedy Community giving back. It is clear our students are living the mission of our school every day, even in the dog days of summer in a gym without air-conditioning. They are giving back and trying to make a difference. That is what is important.
Special thanks to Mrs. McMullen-Hellwig for organizing this event on campus.
For more information or volunteer opportunities visit www.mofeat.org
