Hi everyone! As some of you know, Buttercup loves to bike. Our family spends much of the summer mountain biking together through the Edmonton river valley and in the mountains of BC. While Buttercup has been riding since she was a toddler, it has become increasingly difficult for her due to a combination of medical conditions.

The Hurdles Buttercup is Facing

Buttercup lives with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), which causes her airway to collapse during heavy breathing and significantly limits the effectiveness of her asthma medications. Additionally, she experiences dangerous overheating during exercise and in hot weather because her nervous system cannot properly regulate her internal temperature.

Despite these barriers, biking remains one of Buttercup’s absolute favorite activities, and we want to do everything we can to keep her on the trails she loves.

The Solution: An Electric-Assist Mountain Bike

An electric-assist mountain bike is the ideal solution. It will allow Buttercup to moderate her physical effort, keeping her breathing steady and her body temperature within a safe, healthy range. With this support, she can once again bike with her friends and family this summer and experience the full joy and freedom that every 11-year-old deserves.

To meet both Buttercup’s medical and biking needs, we have several bikes in mind, each of which would be an ideal, safe match for the gnarly terrain she loves and the stability her body requires.

How You Can Help

While e-mountain bikes can range from $3,500 to over $15,000, the models that meet Buttercup’s needs are between $7,000 - $9,000 (the final choice depending on local availability). Our goal is to secure the safest, most reliable fit for her, with any extra funds going directly toward necessary adaptive fitting adjustments and protective gear. This is not something we can provide for her on our own, and unfortunately, provincial funding for this type of adaptive disability support is lacking.

Those of you who know Buttercup can attest to the delight that radiates from her when she has the tools to fully participate in the world around her.

If you are able to donate, any amount will go directly toward purchasing this bike and getting Buttercup back in the saddle.

If you aren't able to donate at this time, sharing this link with your network would mean the world to our family.

Thank you so much for your love, support, and for helping Buttercup to keep shredding the trails!