iCan Bike camp pedals to the Quad-Cities

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Grinning ear to ear, Luke Frutiger steered his bike around orange cones in the parking lot of the East Moline School District administration building Friday morning.

Frutiger and other attendees spent the week learning how to ride a bike at the iCan Bike Camp hosted this week by the Children's Therapy Center of the Quad-Cities and the iCan Shine nonprofit.

The weeklong camp teaches people with varying disabilities how to ride a bike. Open to families across the Quad-Cities region, the camp is advised by iCan Shine employees and led by volunteers.

For Frutiger, who has Down syndrome, learning how to ride a bike means joining his family's bike rides.

"I bike ride and my sons bike ride, so it really opens up to be able to take part in that kind of thing," Julie Frutiger, Luke's mom said. "Before, he had to stay home with someone because he couldn't ride his bike. Now, he can go and he's so excited about that."

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He plans to travel to Colorado and ride bikes with his brothers, she said. He's really looking forward to the trip.

Volunteers John Van Voltenburg and Riley Boekhoff cheered Luke Frutiger on as he looped by them, calling out words of encouragement. Each camper has two volunteer "spotters" to help guide them through the process.

The pair have been working with Frutiger all week, teaching him how to ride independently.

Using equipment provided by iCan Shine, the campers began the week on "roller" bikes, which have one front bike tire, and a smaller roller connected to a handle for the spotter at the back.

As the campers grew more comfortable and confident riding the bike, the roller bikes are replaced with smaller, more unstable rollers so campers could safely learn to balance.

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Campers eventually transitioned to a two-wheel bike, and like Frutiger, rode laps around the parking lot.

Van Voltenburg, who is in his second year volunteering at the camp, said it was heartwarming to see all the progress the campers make throughout the week

Boekhoff, a senior at Pleasant Valley High, said she's enjoyed watching Frutiger gain balance and confidence as he's learned to ride.

"It's definitely really important to me to know how it's going to affect their life and how it's going to make it better," she said.

After a quick water break, Frutiger gave the two volunteers hugs before taking off on his bike again.

This year, the camp had 30 participants and roughly 100 volunteers.

Chris Van Speybroek, vice president of development for the Children's Therapy Center, said about 70% of participants are able to ride a bike by the end of the week.

Learning how to ride a bike independently is important because of the confidence that comes with it, Van Speybroeck said.

"You're overcoming a challenge," he said. "The (campers) are learning, and that confidence that comes with learning that new skill, it translates to everything."

Photos: Paul Norton 'bike bus' makes biking to school safe and fun

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