Local veteran helps people with disabilities hit the road

Rose Peters, a 73-year-old Coachella Valley part-time resident,died while hand cycling down Highway 74 in January. Her family attempted to donate her bike to another handicapped person, but due to the condition of the bike, the hand cycle manufacturers advised against it.

Instead, the manufacturing companygifted a fresh-off-the-line hand cycle to Incight, a charitable organization. Incight ended up in the possession of Marine Corp veteran Theodore Robinson III, who was medically discharged after 13 years of service due to a knee replacement. The organization wanted to donate the bike to an individual with the same disabilities and passions as Peters had.

“I love helping people, and I got to help a lot of young people. So for me it’s awesome to be a part of an organization that has opportunities to actually be a part of,” said Robinson. “In fact, I had opportunities to meet Ms. Rose who had almost the same disability as I had,” said Robinson.

Robinson, who started out simply as a participant, now volunteers at the charityIncight. Volunteers carry out an array of activities such as assisting people into bikes, informing their friends and family how to assist them on their own, and even offering emotional support. Overall, thisis a group dedicated to helping peoplewith disabilities stay active and potentially recover.

Letitia Collins, an active member of Incight, explains the remarkable differences in her health brought forth by the bike: “Once I got on the trike my strength in my legs has increased superbly, and my core strength. It’s progress like I haven’t seen before with physical therapy by going to my healthcare provider.”

Even though there are said to be astonishing results from these bikes, those who use them should always remain cautious, Robinson recommends, “Because you know for a fact that people do not pay attention when they’re driving. They cannot see you, and when you are stopping at a stoplight you have to raise your hand, wave, say, ‘Hi, hi, this is me!’ to allow them to see you.”

Incight, geared towards giving hope to those with physically affecting handicaps, from anything from strokes to surgeries, is always looking for donations and more volunteers to help others down the road to recovery.