Family hopes to win adaptive bicycle for disabled daughter

VICTORVILLE, Calif. (KABC) -- The family of a Victorville girl is hoping to get the community involved to help her win a special needs adaptive bicycle for her birthday.

Ashlynn Aguilera, 9, is a quadriplegic and has multiple disabilities, including cerebral palsy and epilepsy. She has never ridden a bike, so her family has entered her into a national contest called "The Great Bike Giveaway."

"When she sees her sister on her bike and she watches her, it's heartbreaking because you want her to have that," her mother, Connie Aguilera, said. "She doesn't have that mentality to steer, to have that direction. She's at an eight-month cognitive level."

Her parents want to give Ashlynn the experience of a first bike ride and hope she can win the $5,000 bike.

The Aguilera family is simply asking the community to come together and vote for their daughter because the child with the most votes will win the bike.

Votes can be submitted over Facebook or by submitting an email address on the contest website. Those who use the email option must check their inbox and confirm their identity.

Ashlynn is currently in the third spot, but a few days ago she was No. 1.

Connie Aguilera contacted Eyewitness News on Instagram by using #abc7eyewitness and asked for help to spread the word.

You can vote for Ashlynn by going to www.friendshipcircle.org.

There are only seven days left to vote for Ashlynn, but she isn't the only local child hoping to win.

Lisa Sipe-Mendez and her 14-year-old daughter Alyssa are also hoping to win a bike. Alyssa lives in the high desert and has cerebral palsy and Spastic quadriplegia. Her mom says she loves going for rides and the bike would make a huge difference in her life.

You can vote for Alyssa by going to www.friendshipcircle.org.

Ruby Mayorga from Fontana also posted a picture of her daughter Naydine on our ABC7 Facebook page. Naydine has cerebral palsy and can't walk or talk, but her mom says she would love to win a bike for her.

You can vote for Naydine by going to www.friendshipcircle.org.

Elias G. was diagnosed with cancer and has trouble walking on his own. His mother says this bike would make him very happy and help him in his recovery process.

You can vote for Elias by going to www.friendshipcircle.org.