Ridin’ With Deez Wheelz
Danielle “Dee” List is a very special girl. Dee lives with a rare condition (about 1,000 people worldwide have the disease) called Glycosylation (Type 1A CDG), which affects her central nervous system. Although she uses a wheelchair, Dee doesn’t let her condition stop her from enjoying swimming, bowling, bike riding and even walking.
Her dad Jeff had modified a special bike for her to ride. Dee had outgrown her bike and her family was saving money to purchase another one but it was quite expensive. The adaptive bike was set up as a tricycle for stability with a bench seat for two riders and two sets of pedals. Dee’s feet are strapped into the pedals, with both sets working at independent speeds. The custom bike is also motorized for hill assists and folds for transport.
At a meeting for an upcoming Special Olympics event, Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert, Dee and her dad Jeff met Joe Mancino, owner of Tri-State Trailers. Upon learning about Dee growing out of her previous bike, Joe immediately offered to purchase the new bike for her. Jeff offered to split the cost but Joe insisted that he wanted to buy the bike for Dee. Jeff said, “Our family will never forget what Joe has done for Dee!”
As the date for the event approached, Dee was on pins and needles waiting for her new bike to arrive. The bike had been shipped but for some reason had not arrived on the anticipated delivery date. Joe stepped in, making some phone calls and on September 9th, one day before Dee’s event, the bike was delivered. Dee was very excited to be able to ride her new bike in the “Ridin’ With Deez Wheelz Bike Festival” with her new friend Joe Mancino. It was a very special fun-filled afternoon for everyone involved, especially Dee.
Deez Wheelz Bicycle Festival was founded in 2016 by City of Police Chief Scott Schubert and Officer Pamela DeGuffroy and named in honor of Dee List. The event, like the well-known “Law Enforcement Torch Run” has a special partnership with Special Olympics Pennsylvania, which it directly benefits. It is held in Pittsburgh’s Highland Park Bike Track. Everyone is welcome to ride their bike in the event. Deez Wheelz Bicycle Festival includes a bike raffle, unicycle performance and a Bike Rodeo by Pittsburgh Police Officers. All proceeds benefit the Pennsylvania Special Olympics.