Five children receive adaptive tricycles at Henson Robinson Zoo

While the weather was damp, spirits were high Saturday morning at Henson Robinson Zoo as five children and their families received tricycles designed to suit their specific physical and developmental needs.

The tricycles, known as Amtrykes, were donated by the American Business Club of Springfield, which purchases and builds them in order to give them to children and veterans free of charge. More than 400 trikes, which cost between $400 to $1,200 apiece, have been donated during the past 10 years.

“The trikes are therapeutic in nature, one,” said club president Dave Kelm. “But, secondly, and probably most importantly for us, is it lets these kids have fun and be kids and ride bikes with friends and family and get out there and experience the world.”

Kelm said the club works directly with local physical therapists to properly fit a child for a trike and ensure they receive as much benefit from it as possible. After the kids were properly fit for their trikes on Saturday, they cruised around the zoo, which opened an hour early to accommodate.

Among those benefiting from the donation was 5-year-old Emily Jett, who has Down syndrome. Dressed up for Halloween as Disney character Fancy Nancy, Emily was a bit overwhelmed by the situation, but her mother Sharon said she enjoys the bike in therapy and that it will be good for family bike rides moving forward.

“She does like riding it at therapy,” Sharon Jett said. “Today was a little rough with all the new people and the rain, but yeah, she really enjoys being outside and riding the bike.”

Another beneficiary was 2-year-old Atlas Kreoger, who has foot drop in his left leg that causes muscle weakness on that side of his body. His mother, Tabitha, said the trike will help him build his core muscles as well as the left side of his body.

“It’s amazing,” Tabitha Kreoger said. “It’s wonderful to have a group like this that will come together and help children with disabilities like this. So it’s going to be great for him and I am stoked for him.”

This is the second year the club has held an event at the zoo, Kelm said. They also host several other events throughout the year, including an upcoming Christmas event that will feature Santa Claus. According to the club’s website, they have raise just more than $36,000 to purchase Amtrykes in the past two years.

Kreoger said she was “very appreciative” of the group’s efforts, which will make things easier for her son and the family.

“When you become a parent, you want nothing but the best for your children,” Kreoger said. “And when you find out your child has a disability like this, it’s heart-wrenching, but you have to learn to live with it. Things like this help make life a little bit easier.”

Contact Brenden Moore: 788-1526, bmoore@sj-r.com,

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