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Y=DIYDrI UPUNSOYS Fun for the whole pit-crew. -Corolla CE Camry SE LEASE FOR À If you'rej Milton Toyota 's great tî, Matnix L ~TUndra a4 & Many More Ira M ~eIes Avenue 905 87541700 M M M M M xThieves take kids' BMX bikes By STEPHANIE THIESSEN The Champion * Wednesday night, Nicky Pearson had to do one of the most *difficuit things she's ever done. She had to look into the twinkling eyes of a group of special needs children and explain that thieves had stolen the 19 BMX hikes thcy rode every Wednesday in their Riders Rcady BMX program. Wednesday afternoon she said she knew exactly how it would go. "Lots of these kids have OCD (obsessive *compulsive disorder>, 50 you can't change * anything," she said. adding that the slight- est change front the normal routine can he enough to upset the entire group. She said she e-mailed most of the parents immediately so they could informn the kids. "I don't know hoss 1 could handie 25 kids crying." she said, ohviously emotional. Thc hikes, along with some helmets. Gatorade and chocolate bars, were stolen sometime between Saturday moming and Tuesday evening fromn Track 2000 BMX race track near Britarmia and Trafalgar roads. They were stored in a locked trailer equipped with an alarm. Each hike was worth about $300. Ms Pearson, who works at a Milton bicy- cie store, started the Riders Ready programi four years ago for special needs children. The non-profit organization raised money 1and received support from local businesses 10t gradually purchase the bikes. Each week, about 25 boys and girls come to the track to race the BMXs. Most partic- ipants have autism, while a few have other developmnental disahilities. The program has spread hy word of mouth. and Ms Pearson bas had to tumn away ejildren because the program is - or was - mun- ning at full capacity. This is the only social interaction some of the children have ail week, Ms Pearson said. The group was planning to go 10 Kingston on the Labour Day weekend to race in the eastemn Canada finals. Ms Pearson said she first found out about the theft Tuesday night. She said she noticed heimets iying ail] over the grass at the track, and saw ihai the trailer isas empty. "Firsi there was total dishelief," she said. adding that it quickly gave way to anger. While some people would throw their hands up in defeat, that's the last thing Ms Pearson said she's about to do. 'il's not over. These kids have gone through so much. 1'm not going t0 give up on them because of some siolen bikes." Oakville resident Janice Spicer brings ber son Adam, 10, 10 the track each week. She said this is the only recreational pro- gram he can participate in. "lIts taken years of buying two or three bikes each year, and we fmnally had enough 10 run a foul program. 1111 take years 10 build up again," Ms Spicer said. "It's like a bad dream." She said Adam, who bas autism, just can't understand why the bikes are gone. "He was expecting 10 go racmng îonight (Wednesday). 1 had to tell hlm the bikes are ail gone. 1-e doesn't comprehiend it. He thinks robbers are coming te, gel him." Donations 10 the Rlders Ready BMX programi can be made at any TD Canada Trust branch. The account number is 5204157. Stcpha,îie Thiessen can he reaclîed at ron I m m m rv-o_ý opEN OU UURN NNEE 400 StE