Bike rides, beach days, trips to the park – these are all staples of childhood that kids with disabilities want to experience. They want to be active and mobile like other children in their communities.

But the durable medical equipment necessary to give these kids the independence they desire is often too expensive for many families. And insurance isn’t always the answer - in many cases, devices like adaptive bikes and special needs strollers are denied, despite their immense physical and therapeutic benefits, because insurance doesn’t consider them to be necessary items. Even wheelchairs can take up to two years to be funded by insurance.

This is where Variety-the Children's Charity of Wisconsin steps in. Variety Kids on the Go! aims to help kids gain mobility, confidence, freedom, independence and the chance to join in the life of their community by providing funding for walkers, wheelchairs, specially-designed adaptive bikes, strollers, prosthetic limbs and other devices to families with the most need.

Each of our gifts strongly impacts individual children and their families and creates lasting change and improvements in their lives.  Perhaps the best way to illustrate this is through sharing the story of one of our children. Variety recently purchased an Up n’ Go gait trainer for 16 year old Lukasz, who is diagnosed with cerebral palsy, through our Kids on the Go! mobility program.  Due to weakness and tonal issues he was unable to walk without an assistive device.  The Up n’ Go gait trainer provides Lukasz with the assistance he needs while allowing him to be as independent as possible.  It also allows decreased pressure on his lower extremities which will prevent over-stretching and deterioration of his knee joints.

Lukasz and his family moved to the United States from Poland two and a half years ago to gain access to better medical care.  Variety is grateful to be able to help Lukasz gain freedom and independence as he makes strides toward his goal of walking.