Nord Anglia International School’s Special Gift for Isaac

“Isaac used to look at the front window and see other children on the road riding their bikes and wonder why he would not be included in cycling activities with his friends” Isaac’s Mum.

This is just one of the many sad stories we hear at Variety Ireland from parents whose children have mobility issues. The fact that their child can’t ride mainstream bikes given their disability, can exclude them from outdoor play and family activities.

Since the introduction of our Recycle Mobility Programme in 2021, supported by Minister Rabbitte and The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth along with her colleague minister James Lawless and The Department of Transport, Variety Ireland have provided financial assistance to over 550 families to purchase special mobility trikes. This ensures their children can now participate in cycling activities with their family and friends.

Research conducted by The RCSI shows that our Recycle Mobility Programme can improve the mental and physical wellbeing of both the child and family members by up to 87.5%, given they can enjoy cycling activities together.

As well as government support for our Recycle Mobility Programme, we also rely on corporate and private donors, who step in and help support the cost of special mobility trikes for children with mobility issues.

Say hello to the staff and wonderful pupils at Nord Anglia International School in Dublin, who recently fundraised money towards the cost of a special mobility trike for Isaac from Dublin. Thanks to their generosity, Variety Ireland were able to purchase a trike for Isaac so he no longer has to look from the window of his home and wonder why he can’t be included in cycling activities with his friends.

According to his mum, Ashley, Isaac’s new trike is a game changer for him as it means it has opened up a world of new opportunities for him and the whole family. The children of Nord Anglia International School got to meet Isaac in person and present him with his new trike. The kindness shown by the teachers and pupils of Nord Anglia International School is unquantifiable. Their fundraising efforts have managed to change the road map for one young man so he can enjoy new experiences while cycling with his family and friends.

Here is a note received from Isaac’s mother, thanking the pupils and staff at Nord Anglia International School for helping to ensure her son has equal access to cycling, while ensuring a permanent smile on her son’s face. Now Isaac has his own set of wheels, he can be included in cycling activities with his family and friends.

On behalf of all of us here at Variety Ireland and the pupils and staff at Nord Anglia International School, many happy years of cycling Isaac!!

“Dear Variety Ireland,

Words cannot express how grateful we are to you as a charity and the magnificent work both the children and teachers at Nord Anglia International school did to fundraise money so Isaac could get his new bike. Together, you generosity and kindness now means that Isaac can have fun cycling times with his friends. It has provided him with a new lease of life and every day presents him and us as a family with new opportunities so we can do things as a family together. With new greenways opening up around the county, we can explore them together. We also recognise the important work both Minister Anne Rabbitte and Minister Lawless do in supporting you work which is lifechanging for families. We really enjoyed visiting Nord Anglia International School where the children were able to ask questions about Isaac’s condition and for them to present the bike to him personally. It’s always important for all donors to see exactly how their money is being spent and the changes it is going to have in improving the lives of the children you help. A massive thank you all the children and teachers for their thoughtfulness and kindness shown and I hope this encourages other donors to come forward and help children like Isaac so they can have equal access to cycling with their family and friends. We will keep you updated on his progress and the smile on his face says it all.

Thank you so much and keep doing what you do so well!”

Ashley (Isaac’s mother)