Capital Blue Cross joined Variety the Children’s Charity in distributing adaptive bikes and strollers to eight Central Pennsylvania children during a heartwarming ceremony in conjunction with Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. A donation from Capital helped Variety purchase the empowering equipment.
Capital Blue Cross President and CEO Todd Shamash, former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, local government officials, and dozens of Capital employees cheered on the children as they rode through the Capital headquarters atrium on their new bikes and strollers.
“This was a touching and poignant reminder of how important it is for all of us to feel like we belong,” said Capital Blue Cross President and CEO Todd Shamash. “Variety’s programs align wonderfully with Capital’s values and mission – Variety goes above and beyond to empower children with disabilities to live life to the fullest, and Capital goes the extra mile every day to improve the health and well-being not only of our members, but of the communities they call home.”
Five children received bikes and three received strollers. Among the stroller recipients was 7-year-old Thomas of Elizabethtown, Dauphin County. His mother, Charlotte, said the stroller will keep Thomas safer.
“This is more suited to his needs,” Charlotte said. “Thomas runs off a lot when the opportunity arises, because he can get out of the stroller he currently uses. He needs something that will keep him safer as he grows, so the adaptive stroller will make a big difference.”
Pittsburgh-based Variety the Children’s Charity began its adaptive bike program in 2012 and now serves 59 Pennsylvania counties. It has presented more than 6,100 adaptive bikes, strollers, and communications devices, and provides the equipment at no cost to qualifying children and families.
