Two wheels, plenty of smiles

Five years ago, Gene Poulnot Carpenter read an article about a program teaching handicapped children to ride bicycles. Then she kept hearing about it.

Then, six months ago, she was trying to teach her own child with Down syndrome to ride a bike. Frustrated, she called Lose the Training Wheels and brought the group to Charleston for the first time.

Carpenter and her friend Christina Oxford, both volunteers with the Down Syndrome Association of the Lowcountry, began making preparations for the group's arrival.

First, they needed funding. The camp costs participants' families $175. Most of the program's expenses, however, were either donated by outside groups or absorbed by funds raised through Down syndrome charity Buddy Walk.

They needed a space. That was provided by the Charleston Area Convention Center, which donated one of its meeting rooms for the program.

They needed volunteers. Various groups and organizations have been helping the program's participants learn to ride. Wednesday brought out young people from the Florida-based Catholic Heart Workcamp.

"It's been great, the support we've had," Carpenter said.

Michael Gualandri, one of the Catholic Heart Workcamp volunteers, said he was empowered by helping people learn to ride bikes and getting over preconceptions about the mentally challenged.

"Once you get to know them, they're no different than your regular friends," he said.

Of course, they needed bikes. Those came from Lose the Training Wheels.

"We both help each other achieve our missions," said Training Wheels volunteer John Thomas Kowalchuck.

With all the groundwork in place, it was finally time for those involved to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

As of Tuesday, seven of the program's participants were already on two wheels. On Wednesday, a few more were pedalling across the concrete floors at the convention center.

"They come around the corner and they just have the biggest smiles on their faces," Carpenter said.