A non-profit organization
The Arasi family has generously completed the fund raising required to purchase Taylor Flanagan’s bike and will have the honor of presenting it to her soon.
Rich and Kathy Arasi live in Milton, Georgia with their three daughters, Victoria (18), Jenny (15) and Alexandra (9). Rich is a physician and Kathy is a stay at home mom who has strength trained with Matt Russ for the last four years. Last December, Kathy attended the inaugural MY FIRST BIKE presentation and was very moved and inspired by first recipient Tim Beighley’s story of perseverance, positive attitude and genuine appreciation for the opportunity to have his own adaptive bicycle. ”There have been times during the last 18 years when my own children have had short term physical setbacks,” Kathy explains. “During those experiences, my respect and empathy for parents and children with long term challenges have greatly increased.” The Arasis feel blessed to have healthy, active girls and want to pay their blessings forward by giving another child the chance to expand her world of play and movement with an adaptive bike.
Meet Taylor Flanagan!Meet Taylor Flanagan! Taylor is my nine year old little girl with the biggest heart in the world. She is the older of my two children and loves being a big sister to her little sister Toni. Taylor has cerebral palsy and though she has a disability, she never complains or let her on obstacles get in her way. She is such an encouraging, caring, and considerate child. I often tell her she is my angel here on earth.
Taylor was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at fifteen months. At the time she was already receiving physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Her diagnoses came as a major shock for me because as mom I kept thinking; “what do you when you can’t save your child from unfortunate fate?” I wanted so badly to give her chances I had as a child, a chance to run, climb, dance, and simply walk. As a parent it is hard to watch your child have limits when we always instill in them that 
the sky is the limit. We all want what is best for them and with that come giving the world. My worries were normal but, my faith in God kept me believing in miracles. I didn’t know what journey God was leading me on. All I knew is that he had given me and her father a gift and it was up to us to nurture and care for her.
I like to say Taylor conquers her disability and not suffers from it. She had two surgeries over her nine years of life. She’s received many therapeutic services including hippo and aquatic therapy. She continues to exceed possibilities as she grows. I have watched her go from crawling, to walking with a walker, to walking with two crutches, to walking with one crutch, to even walking without assistance at all. She has gained much strength and endurance and will continue to do so with Gods will.
I feel Taylor would greatly benefit and would be very thankful for an adaptive bike. It would give her the opportunity to explore her world on a new level. It would give her a chance to explore her neighborhood and community. It would help her to continue to gain strength, endurance, as well as self- esteem. An adaptive bike would give her a since of independence and it would enable her from her disability. The bike would give her a chance to play better with her sister and other children. This bike would give real meaning to the word: PLAY for a child as unique as mine named Taylor.
Thank You,
(Mom) Tiffany Flanagan
