CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Clarksville Sunset Rotary Club presented three special needs children and their families with free adaptive tricycles, also known as Amtrykes, designed to meet their specific physical needs.

The Amtrykes are given to children in need who are identified by Music City Trykes, the Middle Tennessee chapter of the national organization, AMBUCS. Music City Trykes focuses on mobility and independence, and the tricycles are designed by a physical therapist for each individual youngster.

Volunteers adjust an adaptive tricycle for a special needs child donated by the Clarksville Sunset Rotary Club on Nov.14, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
A special needs child sits on her new adaptive tricycle donated by the Clarksville Sunset Rotary Club on Nov.14, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
A special needs child takes her first ride on her new adaptive tricycle donated by the Clarksville Sunset Rotary Club on Nov.14, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
A special needs child takes her first ride on her new adaptive tricycle donated by the Clarksville Sunset Rotary Club on Nov.14, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
Members of the Clarksville Sunset Rotary Club and volunteers pose with a special needs child as he sits on her new adaptive tricycle donated by the Rotary Club on Nov.14, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
A special needs child sits on his new adaptive tricycle donated by the Clarksville Sunset Rotary Club on Nov.14, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
Members of the Clarksville Sunset Rotary Club and volunteers pose with a special needs child as she sits on her new adaptive tricycle donated by the Rotary Club on Nov.14, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
A special needs child sits on his new adaptive tricycle donated by the Clarksville Sunset Rotary Club on Nov.14, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
Volunteers adjust an adaptive tricycle for a special needs child donated by the Clarksville Sunset Rotary Club on Nov.14, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
Volunteers adjust an adaptive tricycle for a special needs child donated by the Clarksville Sunset Rotary Club on Nov.14, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
Volunteers adjust an adaptive tricycle for a special needs child donated by the Clarksville Sunset Rotary Club on Nov.14, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
A special needs child takes his first ride on his new adaptive tricycle donated by the Clarksville Sunset Rotary Club on Nov.14, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
A special needs child takes his first ride on his new adaptive tricycle donated by the Clarksville Sunset Rotary Club on Nov.14, 2021. (Lee Erwin).
Volunteers adjust an adaptive tricycle for a special needs child donated by the Clarksville Sunset Rotary Club on Nov.14, 2021. (Lee Erwin).

One of the youngsters receiving a tricycle was 11-year-old Elijah Mastromatto. After a few adjustments by therapists to make sure the tricycle was a good fit, Elijah’s father, Michael Mastromatto, took him for a quick spin around the parking lot at High Pointe Therapy on Rudolphtown Road.

“It means a lot to my wife and myself because we don’t have to put him in the stroller, we don’t have to put him in a wheelchair. This allows him to kind of go on a bike ride with us as well as his younger siblings,” Mastromatto said.

Treasurer for the Sunset Rotary Club Gary Newman said the program of tricycles for special needs kids began in 2018 when he was the club president, and over the years they have given away close to 30 Amtrykes. The tricycles range in price from around $900 to $1,500 each.

Newman said Sunset Rotary pays for the tricycles through fundraisers and support from the community. The tricycles are ordered and then sent to the club to be assembled. Rotarians, along with community volunteers, hold a bike build to assemble the trikes and present them to the children.

To learn more, visit the  Clarksville Sunset Rotary Club facebook page.