Giving his bike and locks

COEUR d'ALENE - The wheels continue to turn in Justin McGlynn's saga of selflessness.

The 12-year-old Woodland Middle School seventh-grader, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth, appeared in an Aug. 8 article of The Press to let readers know he had outgrown his special Freedom Concepts bike and wanted to give it to another disabled youth who would benefit from the independence the bike provides. He and his family invited those who were interested in the bike to email them with their stories.

Justin heard from Erika Delgado in Hesperia, Calif., whose 17-year-old daughter, Areah, suffers from Rett Syndrome, a rare condition that impairs the ability to walk, speak, eat and breathe. Erika and her family have entered several contests through the years to win a mobility bike for Areah, but to no avail.

Until now.

"We have entered the Great Bike Giveaway every year in hopes of winning a bike for our beautiful silent angel," Erika wrote. "We do our best to get her involved in our family activities, and when we go for our family evening walks I know she would enjoy them so much more on her bike than in her wheelchair that she's bound to daily. Her brother is an amazing help with her and he adores Areah. We try to make sure she always feels a part and as normal as possible. Our insurance won't cover the bicycle and unfortunately with three other children, it is very difficult to afford. We would like to be considered as a candidate for our silent angel. Even if we are not the chosen ones, we know the child that receives it will be very well-deserving."

The $4,300 bike that gave Justin security, freedom and strength for six years is now on its way to Areah to make a difference in another young person's life.

"It felt good," Justin said about sending Areah the bike.

In addition to helping someone with mobility, Justin is also going to help someone feel beautiful and normal. He has been growing out his hair for about seven months to donate to Locks of Love, a nonprofit that accepts donations of human hair to make wigs for youths who have lost their hair to a medical condition. On Thursday afternoon, Justin chopped off 10 inches to give to the organization. His good friend and trainer, Kroc wellness assistant manager Kevin Nelson, happily helped with the haircut.

"It's just the way he is," Nelson said. "This is the kind of kid he is. He helps everybody. Everybody that comes across him loves him. And he looks cool with the hair."

Justin said he wanted to donate his hair "to inspire other people at my school to do it."

"I've been growing it out this whole time," he said. "It's already past the growing point."

Justin's proud mom, Holly, said she was surprised that they received a call about the bike from someone in California, where their family and the bike are originally from. She said that Justin's giving nature is "a soul thing."

"It's a blessing; it's what every parent wants," she said. "He's priceless - it doesn't matter that he's handicapped."

Justin is now rocking and rolling in a new wheelchair and excited for school to begin.

"The old chair used to have light-wheels so people would come up and say, 'Hey, I never knew you had those, those are cool,'" he said, smiling.

Holly said the Freedom Concept bikes work wonders for disabled kids and their families.

"For special needs moms, that bike is like us owning our dream car, but it's for the child," she said. "It's for that child to have freedom. Now this little girl doesn't have to be in a wheelchair, she gets to go along with her brothers and sisters and the mother can steer it."