The Kiwanis Club of Tellico Village and Malibu Boats recently teamed up to provide an Amtryke therapeutic bike to Ani Monday, daughter of Kelly and Bryan Monday of Friendsville.
Ani has muscular dystrophy, a genetic disease that causes progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal muscles that control movement.
Kiwanis, through the funding assistance of corporations like Malibu Boats, provides therapeutic tricycles to special needs children like Ani who are unable to operate a traditional bike. The tricycles are designed with assistance from the child’s physical therapist and can be either be hand- or foot-operated and accommodate riders with varying degrees of physical limitations. Therapeutic benefits of the bikes include improved motor skills, strength development and self-esteem.
“This is the second Amtryke provided by the Kiwanis Club as she outgrew her other one,” Kelly Monday said. “This new bike will help her with daily activities and gives her the freedom to be more independent. Ani walks the dog twice a day with her bike, and she is so happy being on her bike.”
Chuck Hitch, Kiwanis corporate liaison with Malibu, said the company has provided funding for four Amtrykes during the past three years.
“It is an honor to work with Kiwanis and support the Amtryke program, and how blessed we are to have employees like those at Malibu who provide tremendous support to children like Ani,” Jack Springer, chief executive officer with Malibu Boats, said.
Malibu holds a family day for all employees to raise money to fund Kiwanis children’s programs, with donated funds matched by Malibu.
The company has provided $5,000 for the back-to-school program in Loudon and Lenoir City schools. As part of the program, 50 families get $100 gift cards to spend for new clothes for children. Malibu also gives $1,000 to each Family Resource Center in Loudon and Lenoir City schools annually for the cold weather clothing fund.
