CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) — A new camp this summer is aiming to introduce the joy of bicycle riding to individuals with disabilities.

Wintergreen Adaptative Sports will be hosting “iCan Bike” at Albemarle High School Monday through Friday the week of June 15. The program, which is run across the country with support from the nonprofit iCan Shine, is being held in Charlottesville for the first time this year, and its local organizers are currently looking for riders, volunteers, donors and sponsors.

The effort is being spearheaded by Heather Russell, a pediatric physical therapist and local mountain bike coach. Russell was first made aware of the program last year and drove up to Maryland volunteer for a week.

“It’s an amazing camp,” she told Cville Right Now. “I had a blast in Maryland.”

To participate, campers sign up for a 75-minute slot they attend each of the five days. They start with an adaptive bike that includes rollers instead of a back wheel, allowing the riders to learn to balance. They ride those bikes inside a gymnasium before transitioning to a two-wheel bike outside. The goal of the program is to get every rider on the two-wheel bike by Friday.

“All the kids have special needs of some sort,” Russell said. “It can be autism, spectrum disorder, down syndrome, ADHD. But they meet the kids where they are.”

In Maryland, Russell said she was struck by the welcoming and nurturing environment of the program. It didn’t matter what each rider needed, as there was never a stigma. If a rider got nervous, there was a stationary bike available, and once they got bac on their bike afterward the entire gym would cheer because they got back on and tried again.

“It was a really cool, very positive atmosphere,” she said. “And I think, because I work in the school system and I can see how frustrated sometimes kids can get when they feel like they’re not a part of the group. It was just cool to see everybody was part of the group.”

Each rider is also given two volunteers who work with them throughout the week. There can be eight riders in a single session, with five sessions each day.

Russell said putting together the program has been an expensive process, and they are currently looking for sponsors and donors “to make it happen.” The program is also looking for riders as well as volunteers. She said the organizers are encouraging groups to register and commit to the same time slot so they can get to know their rider throughout the week.

Volunteering is not only a great way to support the program and its riders, but it also provides a bit of a workout. Russell said volunteers walk, jog and run approximately three miles a session, and that she herself was not prepared when she volunteer in Maryland last year.

“I drove up and I stayed in a hotel room for the week, and so I was like, ‘Well, I’m here. I might as well just volunteer like three of the five sessions,'” she said, “and by Friday, I was sore. I’m a mountain biker, not a runner, so it is a very physical volunteer position.”

Those looking to register a rider, register as a volunteer or find contact info for the planning committee at iCan Bike Charlottesville page located on the iCan Shine website. Russell said the program is also accepting donations for bikes in good condition, meals for full-time volunteers who will be there all day, water bottles or Gatorade and other items to help the program run smoothly.

“I would love for this to be an annual thing in Charlottesville,” Russell said.