It was a gala that will not soon be forgotten, complete with a red carpet, photographers, and cheering fans. The stars evoked all of the emotions of the audience with their performances, but this event was not a fictional Hollywood script.
The stars, local children and adults with disabilities accompanied by their buddies from Georgia Southern's Athletes in Action organization, shone brightly and showcased their talents for an incredibly special event: the first Stars for Trykes. This show was to benefit Statesboro AMBUCS, a local non-profit providing adaptive tricycles called Amtrykes to individuals with disabilities.
The talent show was held at Connection Church in Statesboro on Friday, February 28, 2025. It featured three celebrity judges: Dal Cannady, Trish Tootle, and Derek Noel, and performances by Russ Lanier, who sang "Everyone is Beautiful" and ended the evening with "I Can't Help Falling in Love With You" in full Elvis regalia.
Amtrykes, which are specially designed tricycles that cater to various mobility needs, offer a sense of freedom and independence to those who use them. The Statesboro chapter of AMBUCS, established in 2024, has gifted over 50 Amtrykes to children and adults in the community. The organization relies heavily on community support, with therapists volunteering their time to evaluate individuals, Statesboro firefighters donating their time and talents to build custom Amtrykes, and local businesses partnering to fundraise.
Both of the emcees of the evening, Jake Palmer and Jason Michael Carpenter, are themselves recipients of Amtrykes, Carpenter having been the first child in Statesboro to receive an Amtryke. Announcer John Irvan asked the young men to elaborate about the effect this had on their childhoods.
"It meant everything. It meant I could run my bike with my friends and go around with my family and just do what I wanted to do and just be a kid," Carpenter said.
"With my Amtryke, I was able to do activities just like my friends. It was an awesome feeling," Palmer adds.
The current need for Amtrykes is significant. Currently, six children are waiting for evaluations, with each Amtryke costing approximately $1,300. Caroline Bowman, President of the Statesboro AMBUCS and owner of The Therapy SPOT, shared that the local chapter had exceeded its goal thanks to the support of the residents of Bulloch County. Stars for Trykes raised an impressive total of $29,858.
They chose to gift the additional $5,000.00 to the 2025 Class of Leadership Bulloch, who is endeavoring to build an ADA-compliant playground, so that kids of all abilities can have fun in a safe environment.
"We have been blown away with the support that has been given to us through this community and through Stars for Trykes," Bowman explained, "and so we decided to give what we got over to the current class to finish funding the playground."
The Stars for Amtrykes event showcased the talents of children who have benefited from Amtrykes, with unique awards given to every participant for categories like "Most Courageous" and "Best Musician."
The event, which is planned to occur annually, also highlighted the stories of Amtryke recipients and their families, emphasizing the profound impact these adaptive tricycles have had on their lives.
The event also underscored the importance of community involvement.
"We need all of you to help," Bowman said.
She encouraged attendees to consider becoming part of the organization, whether through volunteering, fundraising, or spreading awareness.
The success of the Stars for Amtrykes fundraiser demonstrates the community's commitment to providing mobility and independence for all. As the organization continues to grow, it promises to bring the joy and freedom of mobility to even more individuals in Statesboro and the surrounding areas.
For more information on how you can help, contact statesboroambucs@gmail.com.