Pedals of hope

Five-year-old Addie Gulino recently arrived with her family at Christ Court of the Catholic Life Center in Baton Rouge. 

In her naturally joyful manner she waved to, hugged and kissed family members and friends. Then, following a welcome and prayer from Father Paul Counce and introductory comments from Andrew McLindon, founder of the McLindon Family Foundation, the moment came for the reason for the gathering. A Freedom Concepts bicycle that had been hidden was presented from MFF to Addie. Within minutes she was peddling her bike, her face glowing with effervescent happiness and confidence.

“It was heartwarming and joyful to celebrate with Addie, her family and friends and the McLindon Family Foundation in the courtyard of the diocese.”  

Gwen Fairchild

Director of the Office of Stewardship for the Diocese of Baton Rouge

Addie’s mother, Rebecca Gulino, said she had a normal pregnancy with Addie and she was healthy when she was born. But when she was about one-year old, Addie wasn’t meeting her gross motor skills milestones. Her physical strength wasn’t increasing and so she began physical therapy as well as occupational and speech therapy.

“It’s been an overall collaboration with each other, and we are taking it day by day,” said Jacob Gulino, Addie’s father. 

Family, friends, health care providers, the Catholic Church and extended community have all been supportive in helping Addie live up to her fullest capabilities. 

“Addie loves school,” said Rebecca.  “She goes to special education class but she spends time in the general education classroom because she does so well amongst her ‘typically developing peers.’ Addie’s a very social child, she’s awesome.”

The Gulinos, members of St. Agnes Church in Baton Rouge, are thankful to MFF for providing the bike and, seeing the buoyant look on Addie’s face as she “put the pedal to the metal” on her new bike, could see how helpful it will be in building her confidence as well as her strength.

“She doesn’t seem to want to get off,” grinned Rebecca.

The bike presentation was a special celebration in that Addie was the 500th bike recipient from the McLindon Family Foundation, a 2022 award recipient of the Bishop Joseph Stanley Ott Works of Mercy Trust Fund from the Diocese of Baton Rouge. The MFF provides adaptive bikes for children with special needs.

The McLindon family is a bike riding family, so providing bikes for children with special needs was a natural choice. 

Addie’s bike presentation came on the eve of the MFF 111-mile bike ride fund raiser from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. At the end of the bike ride, the MFF presented another child with a bike at the Michael R. Boh Center Child Development Center in New Orleans. 

“Families with children with special needs often don’t have disposable income. Because insurance seldom finances bikes, it’s very important and meaningful for us to do this. These bikes change lives,” said McLindon, adding the bikes typically cost thousands of dollars.

The MFF collaborates with the child’s physical therapist to ensure the bike is modified for each child’s individual needs.                                                                                                                                     Addie’s physical therapist, Dana Goza, said she has seen more progress in Addie’s physical therapy since she received the bike.      

“Addie is a sweet child,” said Goza. “Getting her a bike is beneficial, especially for functional strength.”

She said a bike is a more enjoyable type of therapy that can be done at home independently, which is beneficial toward the goal of helping the child become more independent and have more mobility. Goza was happy to hear the bike was very helpful for Addie when trick-or-treating this year.

Gwen Fairchild, director of the Office of Stewardship for the diocese, said, “It was heartwarming and joyful to celebrate with Addie, her family and friends and the McLindon Family Foundation in the courtyard of the diocese. Bishop Ott was certainly a presence there witnessing his continued good works.”

Anyone who would like to contribute to the Bishop Ott Works of Mercy fund can do so at diobr.org/works-of-mercy.