Over 100 children with special needs are getting fitted for bicycles in the region.

‘You Can Ride 2’ is a program that started in 2012 in Edmonton and was brought to Fort McMurray three years ago in a partnership with the Fort McMurray Public School Division and Fort McMurray Catholic School District.

“Growing this program was always a priority. We are grateful for the partnerships with our sponsors, therapists, and volunteers. This initiative is truly grounded in the well-being of our community’s children and we are delighted to see it sustained,” Shannon Noble, Assistant Superintendent – Inclusive Education, Fort McMurray Public School Division.

The program offers an assessment by a trained physiotherapist or occupational therapist to ensure they have a bike that will suit the their individual needs.

Last year, Wood Buffalo You Can Ride 2 won the Citizen Recognition Award in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, shared by the Fort McMurray Public School Division, Fort McMurray Catholic Schools, and the Canadian Red Cross.

Since beginning in the region, over 250 bikes have been loaned.