“Three is not enough”

Helping children with disabilities replace wheelchairs with new “wheels”

2023 April

“Three is not enough.”

With those words, Minh Nguyen transformed a small donation into a joint annual signature event for Los Angeles and Orange County Trial Lawyers’ Charities.

In 2017, LATLC made a small grant to SoCal Trykers, a non-profit founded by a group of physical therapists and their families and friends. Their mission was to help as many special needs children and adults as possible acquire adapted tricycles.

These bikes promote independence, social interaction, mobility, strength, self-esteem, and quality of life for children who otherwise can only watch their peers ride around with friends. These bikes, which can cost as much as $1,000 each, are financially out of reach for many low-income families.

A few board members attended the initial LATLC presentation. After seeing the smiles on the children who received these modified bikes, Minh, with four little words, created The Great Tryke Giveaway, an annual event that has provided more than 100 adaptive tricycles to special needs children in Los Angeles and Orange County.

On April 29, OCTLC and LATLC will present another dozen tricycles to area children with physical and developmental disabilities at Bancroft Middle School in Long Beach. In addition to a parade, games, balloon twister and facepainting, volunteers will assemble 1,000 toiletry kits for the unhoused in southern California while SoCal Trykers complete the final modifications for each child.

The event is a favorite for both Los Angeles and Orange County Trial Lawyers’ Charities’ volunteers and is a perfect activity for the entire family. Riders are cheered on by the Long Beach Beauties, a special needs squad. Volunteers share crafts and activities with the families. The emotional connection between the riders and volunteers is long lasting. The day has also been covered on television and in newspapers. The Great Tryke Giveaway will be held at Bancroft Middle School in Long Beach from 9 a.m. to noon. To volunteer, visit https://www.latlc.org/.

For the past three years, Los Angeles Trial Lawyers’ Charities has hosted the 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament specifically to raise funds for the special bikes. The first year, LATLC brought in $50,000. The second year, $80,000. In February, the 3rd Annual 3-on-3 Tournament brought in nearly $120,000, to ensure that the bikes will be funded through 2024.

Orange County Trial Lawyers’ Charities raise their funds through events like the upcoming “Roast” of attorney Eric Traut that will be held on April 22 in Costa Mesa. Visit OCTLC.org to reserve your tickets and support their work.

You can be part of this wonderful morning – join us at Bancroft Middle School in Long Beach on April 29 and help special needs children get their new “wheels.”