Students enjoy donated tricycles

BELVEDERE -- A grin broke across Seth Todd's face when he saw the red tricycle. His teacher, Pam McMullin, helped him out of his wheelchair and into the seat of the tricycle.

"Let's roll," Todd said.

James L. Hammons Marine Corps League Detachment No. 939 donated to Belvedere Elementary a handful of tricycles built especially for young children with mobility challenges. The tricycles are powered by hand pedals, not foot pedals.

The children in McMullin's class were happy to jump on and ride the tricycles on the school's front sidewalk for a while Thursday after members of the Detachment No. 939 unloaded them.

"This lets a kid now be a kid," said Commandant Lane Parker. "If they have mobility problems, before they could just sit and watch. Now they can get out with their peers."

The local detachment raises funds throughout the year to make such donations to schools in Aiken County. Parker estimates there are 30 tricycles in the community.

"You can see what a joy it is to them and to us," he said.

Belvedere Elementary Principal Alison Churm said children like to ride the school's standard tricycles around the playground's figure eight.

"These children, they watch that and want to do it. Now, they can go out and participate and it means the world to them. We appreciate this."

An individual or organization who is interested in sponsoring a hand-pedaled tricycle can call Lane Parker at 644-8300.