Freedom: Jaxon Taylor swapped his wheelchair for a bicycle. Picture: Mike Sea.
WHEN six-year-old Jaxon Taylor was helped from his wheelchair and on to his first bicycle, the sight brought tears to his mother’s eyes.
Jaxon’s muscular dystrophy means he needs a wheelchair to get around, but that had never stopped him wanting to ride a bicycle like his friends did.
‘‘I would never think that I couldn’t go on a bike because I am in a wheelchair,’’ a brighteyed Jaxon said.
But for mum Lija Taylor, her son’s determination presented a challenge.
‘‘I didn’t know what we were going to do,’’ Mrs Taylor said.
‘‘We were sitting in the Children’s Hospital at Westmead and we saw a brochure for these bikes and it was really exciting for us.
‘‘It was great when he had his cousins over and he could ride with them.
‘‘We got a bit teary; you never think you could find something like that.’’
Jaxon’s bike was custom-built to give him support by Northmead not for profit company, TAD Disability Services.
The specially-built bike has a frame that supports Jaxon and secures his body with a harness.
Although he has difficulty using his legs, the bike has balancing wheels and a gear system that makes it easier to ride once Jaxon gets rolling.
Chief executive of TAD, Alan McGregor, said the company produced about 1000 bikes and pieces of equipment a year to help get people with disabilities active.
The company survives on a budget of $1.6 million a year, sourced partially from government grants and client fees, but mostly from fund-raising.
‘‘But this is the little miracle,’’ he said, watching Jaxon ride, ‘‘to see this little fella come in in a wheelchair and now riding around . . . it’s a magic moment.’’