As a lifelong, cyclist, Marc van Bree logs 100 miles or more on his bike each week, either by himself or with a group. But it is his rides with his son, Willem, that he enjoys the most.
Willem is 11 years old and has Autism. While he is nonspeaking and has difficulty with motor skills, he can use a device to communicate and loves to be on the move, even if it is just riding in the car. Marc and his wife, Tania, have always taken Willem to stores and restaurants to get him comfortable in the community. That became impossible, though, during COVID, so they came up other ways to get Willem out and keep him moving. Hiking became a favorite weekend activity for Marc, Tania, Willem, and his older sister, Elli. During the week, Marc began taking Willem for bike rides around their neighborhood using a bike seat at first, then a bike trailer, and eventually an adaptive tricycle hitched to his bike that allows Willem to enjoy a more authentic biking experience.
Marc and Willem’s rides have become a daily activity. “Rain or shine, hot or cold, we will ride,” Marc shares. “Willem will push the ‘bike’ button on his AAC device and I’ll know it’s time to go!” Together, they have done more than 1,000 rides and 5,000 miles. “But, the most valuable metric of them all, “says Marc, “is the hundreds of hours we’ve spent together outside.”
On October 26, Marc and Willem had planned to ride a 25-mile route at Bike to the Beach’s Texas Ride for Autism near Surfside, to raise funds for the Autism Society of Texas, a nonprofit that has been an invaluable source of information and connections for their family. Due to a cancellation by the organizers and a move to virtual, Willem & Marc will now be taking a few laps around the Austin Veloway! This may be the longest ride the pair has done together so far, but Marc believes his son is up to the challenge. “With the right support and adaptations, we can make the world a little more welcoming for our neurodiverse friends,” Marc concludes. “When we listen and adapt, kids like Willem show the world how they shine.”
To support Team Willem, visit their Bike to the Beach page here!