Katy Shimabukuro

I would like a bike so I can exercise and maybe ride with my brother.

Thank you,
Katy Shimabukuro
October, 2005


Dear Athletes Helping Athletes Foundation,

I am writing on behalf of my foster daughter who we have legal guardianship over and has lived with us since she was 3 months old. Katy is going to be 9 years old on November 10th and has spina bifida. She had a meningomyelocele at birth and has a VP shunt and is without feeling or movement from the waist down. Uses AFOs, and a manual wheelchair.

Katy is a joy to everyone that meets her. She is self-confident, funny, and makes friends easily. She is always encouraging others, and is amazingly positive despite all the things she has endured thus far in her short life! This past year she has put on a considerable amount of weight and her adaptive PE teacher has suggested that she get more exercise than the twice a week swimming lessons that she has been taking since age 4. I am hoping that she would qualify for a hand pedaled bike that she can learn to ride and help her get the exercise that she needs. Because of her weight gain she has lost some of her previous abilities which are outlined on the enclosed testing done this year by her adaptive PE teacher.

Last summer at the Jr. National Wheelchair Games in Tampa, Katy had a opportunity to try a hand pedaled bike and really enjoyed it. I was surprised to see how easily she figured out how to steer and maneuver the bike!

Thank you for considering Katy as a recipient of a hand pedaled bike as I believe this will help her gain back the strength and ultimately improve her mobility.

Sincerly,
Debbi Mitchell