In her teens, bicycling for Alice Teisan, of Midland, was more than a hobby. Before she turned 30, she estimates that she traveled 10,000 miles on her bicycle. She has biked in Africa, England, Israel and Scotland, in addition to the U.S.
Her plans to continue cycling were waylaid when she was diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This condition made it impossible for her to keep biking at such a pace.
While that news was more than disheartening, it eventually led her to start a non-profit that would provide bicycles, as well as hand-pedaled trikes, to others in need in the U.S and around the world.
From the beginnings of the organization in 2005, through 2013, His Wheels International distributed 1,700 bicycles in the U.S. The group also bought 165 bicycles for people in 12 African countries.
Since that time, the group has been working on hand-pedaled trikes in numerous capacities. The trikes are designed for people who have lower extremity disabilities.
“What we do is promote the design, fabrication and manufacturing of these trikes for people with disabilities in other parts of the world,” Teisan said. “There is a team of us – about 20 people – who have put eyes on it: physical therapists, occupational therapists, surgeons, engineers, nurses – we kind of improved on the design. Since that time we have about 120 of them in 22 countries around the world.”
With a prototype available for free at the group’s website, anyone can access and customize the trike for their unique circumstances.
Individuals as well as teams of people have worked together through His Wheels International to help others across the globe.
“We like to involve students to give them the opportunity to see how their skills can have a global impact,” Teisan said. “Spring Arbor University partnered with a group in India. The students helped buy materials to make 20 trikes.”
Students at Olivet University built a hitch and trailer that can be attached to the trike. The trailer could potentially carry supplies, such as firewood, or goods to be sold at local markets.
Through meeting people at various events and speaking engagements, Teisan’s shared vision has contributed to trikes being made in, or delivered to, places including Ethiopia, India, Nigeria and Uganda.
And while the trikes provide mobility, they may also lead to employment opportunities for locals where they are being built.
Teisan has written two books: Pray 10K How the Radical Can Become Real: A 10,000 – Hour Prayer Adventure and Riding on Faith: Keeping Your Balance When the Wheels Fall Off; both books are available on Amazon. She is also in the editing stages of a children’s coloring book about the trike.
Teisan plans to attend a conference this fall in Missouri hosted by Mobility Worldwide, another organization that aims to provide mobility to people around the world.
To learn more about His Wheels International, visit www.hiswheels.org
