Guardian employees raise money for adaptive bike giveaway

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Guardian employees raise money for adaptive bike giveaway

Tribune-Review | Friday, November 10, 2023 6:00 a.m.

Courtesy of Guardian Protection

Giving a thumbs up for three new adaptive bikes are recipients 5-year-old Benjamin O’ Rourke, his brother, James, 8, and Timmy Wooldridge, 6. They’re shown with Variety CEO Charlie LaVallee; Guardian Marketing Vice President Kevin Bish; Oliver O’Rourke, 3; his dad Ryan O’Rourke; Guardian President Bryan Cipoletti, and Meghan Wooldridge, Timmy’s mother. The O’Rourkes are from Gibsonia and the Wooldridges are from Bellevue. The bikes were given away at Guardian’s headquarters in Warrendale. Two of the bikes were sponsored by Guardian employees. The third was sponsored by Howmet Aerospace Foundation.

Employees of Guardian Protection in Warrendale teamed up with Variety — the Children’s Charity to provide custom-made adaptive bikes to three children with disabilities in October.

Guardian employees raised money through raffles and other activities to sponsor two of the bikes, which can cost up to $2,500 each, according to Variety.

The third was sponsored by Howmet Aerospace Foundation.

Receiving the bikes were Timmy Wooldridge, 6, of Bellevue and brothers Ben O’Rourke, 5, and James O’Rourke, 8, both of Gibsonia. This was James’ second bike as he outgrew his first one, according to Variety.

A little parade accompanied the Oct. 24 giveaway celebration.

Variety’s My Bike program provides the adaptive bikes, and it led to creation of Variety’s My Stroller Program, which provides, adaptive strollers, and Variety’s My Voice Program, which provides communication devices.

Since November 2012, more than 6,800 adaptive bikes, adaptive strollers, and communication devices have been presented to eligible children throughout Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia, for more than $10.2 million worth of adaptive equipment.

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