Great tryke giveaway is coming July 27!
Adaptive tricycles are financially out of reach for many families with special-needs children
John F. Kennedy once wrote, “Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike.” But for many children with physical and intellectual limitations, it is not that simple. Enter SoCal Trykers (https://socaltrykers.wixsite.com/ambucs), an incredible group of physical and occupational therapists whose mission is to “encourage participation in activities that promote independence, social interaction, mobility, strength, self-esteem and quality of life, by assisting people in obtaining Amtryke adaptive tricycles, through fundraising and volunteer efforts.” These “trykes” can cost up to $1,000 each and are often out of reach for low-income families.
Since 2016, Trial Lawyers’ Charities has been a major sponsor of SoCal Trykers, providing more than 180 adaptive tricycles. It started when LATLC made a small grant to SoCal Trykers for three new bikes. When board members attended the presentation at Cal State Long Beach, past President Minh Nguyen said, “Three is not enough” – and the Great Tryke Giveaway was born.
As soon as OCTLC started in 2020, SoCal Trykers was one of the first partner charities for children in Orange County.
These trykes are so important to the kids, LATLC started the 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament to specifically purchase them during the pandemic when traditional fundraising events were impossible. For OCTLC, funds for the bikes are raised during the Annual Charity Roast.
Each year the Great Tryke Giveaway grows, and we now host a joyous joint party with crafts, food, and activities for the families. There is a parade where each tryke recipient is featured and celebrated. The Long Beach Beauties (https://www.facebook.com/longbeachbeauties/), a wonderful special needs cheer squad, will again root the kids on, along with about 50-75 LATLC and OCTLC volunteers.
While the children are getting their final tryke adjustments, the volunteers are kept busy assembling 1,000 (YES, 1,000!) toiletry kits for those experiencing housing insecurity. This year all the kits will be donated to U.S. Vets (https://usvets.org/) whose mission is to end veteran homelessness through housing, counseling, career development and comprehensive support. The toiletry kits will be distributed for use by U.S. Vets in both Los Angeles for LATLC and in Orange County for OCTLC.
The Great Tryke Giveaway is one of the most popular LATLC and OCTLC volunteer activities. Join us on Saturday, July 27 (8 am to noon) at the Bancroft Middle School in Long Beach by signing up today (https://www.latlc.org/volunteer-events). There are a few limited sponsorships still available (https://TRYKE24.givesmart.com).
Bradley S. Wallace
The founder of The Wallace Firm, PC and a highly accomplished trial lawyer, Bradley S. Wallace has tried jury trials throughout California and his results speak for themselves. In 2017, Bradley Wallace was inducted as one of the youngest members of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Born and raised in Los Angeles, Bradley Wallace currently serves on the 2024 Board of Directors for Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC). Mr. Wallace was recently selected as a “2024 Southern California Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers Magazine for the fifth consecutive year, after seven (7) consecutive selections as a “Southern California Rising Star” dating back to 2013. Bradley Wallace currently serves as President of the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers’ Charities, a non-profit founded and run by Plaintiff Trial Attorneys committed to giving back to the greater Los Angeles community.
Michelle M. West
Michelle Marie West is a partner with the law firm of Robinson Calcagnie in Newport Beach, California where she has practiced for 18 years. Her law practice is devoted to obtaining recovery for individuals who are catastrophically injured due to defective products, including vehicles, tires, skylights, machinery, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. She also handles dangerous-condition cases, trucking cases, premises liability matters, sexual assault, and bullying cases on behalf of injured victims and survivors. Ms. West has been nominated as a Top 100 Southern California Superlawyer multiple times, Top 50 Orange County Superlawyer, and Top 50 Women Southern California Superlawyer, as well as being recognized by Best Lawyers. She is on the Board of the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Charities, Past President of the Western Trial Lawyers Association and currently serves as President of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Charities.
In her free time‚ Ms. West enjoys weightlifting, traveling, marathons (completing over 100) as well as participating in ultra-distance running events, cycling events, and triathlons, and has completed over 10 full Ironman® triathlons. She competes in the Badwater Ultramarathon running event to raise money for charity and has finished the event five times.
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