We are very excited to announce that Mosaic Cycles will be auctioning off a handmade bicycle to benefit the National Inclusion Project March 13th-March 23rd on eBay. We are so honored to be a part of this project and the recipient of the proceeds. The bike will be on display at the North American Homemade Bicycle Show in Charlotte, NC this weekend March 14-16. Below is the story of a little boy named James and how this all came about.
A huge THANK YOU to everyone involved in the Charity Bike project, especially Joe Anderson.
The following post is by Joe Anderson:
In the spring of 2013, during one of my visits to see Aaron and Kevin at Mosaic Cycles, we came up with the idea to put together a charity bike for NAHBS 2014. At the same time my wife Elisabeth and I began to notice that our two year old son James was trailing behind his peers. James had always been behind the typical developmental milestones schedule but with the guidance of an early intervention therapist we decided to have him screened for Autism.
James diagnosis was not a shock to us, but it did bring out some significant emotions and questions. I kept thinking to myself will this change the access he has to the extracurricular activities I enjoyed as a child? I became an emotional wreck thinking that if James wanted to play soccer or be in the school play there might not be an opportunity for him due to his differences.
Now three and a half, James has made fantastic strides thanks to his preschool, physical therapy, ABA therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. We are very proud of our hard working little guy. At this point we do not know if he is going to want to play baseball, join the boy scouts, or go to summer camp. Frankly, we don’t care what activities he chooses, we just want there to be a place for him in whatever he decides to do.
A few months back when we revisited the idea of a charity bike, Aaron and Kevin asked me if I would pick the beneficiary for the bike. The National Inclusion Project stood out as the logical choice. Founded in 2003, the National Inclusion Project was formed with the mission of opening doors for ALL children to learn, laugh, and play together.
The Bicycle will be auctioned on eBay by The Pro’s Closet with 100% of the proceeds going to the National Inclusion Project. The auction will last 10 days and begin on Thursday, March 13th at 9pm ET. You can find the auction here.
Those wishing to donate whatever dollar amount to the National Inclusion Project to recognize the efforts of Mosaic Cycles, please go to DONATE and enter “Mosaic” in the Special Event box.
I am truly grateful to the companies who have donated product and time for this worthy cause. Everyone I asked for help immediately answered with an enthusiastic “yes” followed by “what do you need?” Thank you to the following people and companies for making this all come together:
–-Aaron Barcheck and Kevin Batchelor of Mosaic Cycles, for handcrafting and finishing the bicycle frame
–Dustin Brady of Shimano U.S.A., for providing the parts kit and the wheels
–Mark Jordan of Fox Racing Shox, for providing the fork
–Jarrad Lokes, Pete Lopinto, and Nick Martin of The Pro’s Closet, for running the charity auction
–Brett Hahn of Continental Bicycle Tire, for providing the tires
–Amanda Schaper of Crank Brothers, for providing cock pit parts
–Last, and certainly not least, Adam Bookwalter and my former employer fi’zi:k, for providing the saddle.
For more information about the bicycle or to get involved please contact Joe Anderson or (970)333-1469