Yankees give HOPE to those with disabilities

NEW YORK -- People say that in life, there's only one certainty -- and that's change. All it takes is one moment, and life is never the same.

One day, you could be a marathon runner training in Prospect Park when you see two children who are about the same age but whose lives are worlds apart. One was on a bicycle, joyously exclaiming to his father that he was going so fast and that he was so happy. And the other was in a wheelchair, gazing longingly at an experience he had knowledge of but no relation to.

The next day, you could be the founder of a nonprofit organization called AdaptAbility, using your expertise in mechanics as the owner of a bike repair shop called "Behind Bars in Brooklyn" to build custom-made bicycles for children with disabilities.

That's what happened to Sandra Alfonzo in the summer of 2015. It was the moment that changed her life.

"It broke my heart," Alfonzo said, "and I decided to make a difference and to do something to help all those kids out there."

All of which led to Friday -- the fifth and final day of the Yankees' 10th annual HOPE Week -- when Yankees manager Aaron Boone and players Aaron Hicks, DJ LeMahieu, Cameron Maybin and Adam Ottavino joined Alfonzo in surprising Kiko, a 14-year-old with special needs, with his very own adaptive bicycle.

"It's awesome that you stopped what you were doing, because we're all so dang busy all the time and we've got this idea that we've gotta have our blinders on and just be concerned with what's in front of us, not necessarily the people that are around us," said Jason Zillo, the team's vice president of communications and media relations. "And it's kind of cool, I thought, that we're trying to do, during HOPE Week, what you are doing for kids with disabilities.

"You stopped for a second and you said, 'I'm able-bodied, I've got 24 hours a day and I can potentially do something with my craft.' And that's what you're doing, and you should feel awfully proud of yourself."

In just a year and a half, AdaptAbility has provided unique bikes for eight families. Since it takes two to three months and $4,000 to $5,000 for Alfonzo and her small team of volunteers to build each bike, there is an application process to choose each recipient.

So when Kiko, who is partially disabled on the left side of his body and is partially blind out of the left side of his eyes after having half of his brain removed, applied with the help of his parents, Joseph and Lina Mina, he had no idea that he would be chosen, let alone that the Yankees would end up giving it to him.

But much of life is rooted in fate. There's this idea that every person exists in an interconnected chain, and that no two people are separated by more than six degrees. The Mina family is now well-acquainted with this philosophy.

Last summer, Kiko attended a weeklong bike camp in New Jersey courtesy of the iCanBike program, part of a nonprofit organization that provides quality learning opportunities in recreational activities for individuals with disabilities. It was hosted by an avid cyclist named Mitchell Morrison, who went on a one-on-one bike ride with Kiko and fell in love with him. So, Morrison invited Kiko and his parents to his upcoming Tour De Farm event, where he introduced them to his friend Marty Epstein and Epstein's children.

It just so happened that Jonathan Epstein was involved in InTandem, a not-for-profit organization that provides tandem cycling programs mainly for the visually impaired in New York City. After noticing how difficult it was for Kiko to ride solo, he volunteered to teach Kiko and Joseph how to ride together. Jonathan then sent an email to the Minas' about a woman he knew who ran a program in Brooklyn that gives bikes to disabled children. The application deadline was that night.

The Minas decided there was nothing to lose. As it turned out, there was so much to gain.

On Friday, Kiko walked into the bike repair shop and immediately noticed that there were more people around than usual, making it known that he had "no idea what was going on." That's when Zillo called Boone and the Yankees players out from their hiding spot behind a curtain. They rolled out his new tandem bike along with them -- as well as a custom helmet with the Yankees logo on it.

Kiko and his parents were overwhelmed by the surprise, effusive in expressing both their shock and gratitude. Alfonzo noted: "I've never seen him this happy."

"Oh my gosh, it is amazing. I love it," Kiko said. "The bike, but especially the presentation. I can't wait to ride it back [home]. It's crazy, I wasn't expecting them."

Added Boone: "God bless her. The fact that she continues to do this and to see the impact it's having on a family, this is what it's all about. HOPE Week is the best thing we'll probably do all season. To be able to touch different people's lives, but ultimately, it ends up touching us more probably than even the people that we get to affect. It's a great thing we get to be a part of."

The Yankees weren't just there to be bystanders, though. They were set to accompany him to a park down the block to take the bike out for its first spin. Maybin jokingly asked Joseph if his legs were ready. Joseph turned to his son and said: "You got a lot of athletes here to help you, do you want them or me?"

When Kiko didn't show a preference, Maybin took Joseph up on that and hopped on the back. He guided Kiko across the intersection and down the street, while the rest of the group tried to keep up on foot. At the park, Maybin took him around a couple times, as did Boone.

Both of them talked about how it was a "smooth ride" with an "easy handle," so when Joseph took up the rear, he let Kiko do some of the pedaling and steering himself.

After they were done riding, Zillo called the group together to make a special announcement. Kiko and Alfonzo would be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at Friday's Yankees game vs. the Astros. Kiko, who used to play adaptive baseball in the Little League Challenger Division, lit up with excitement. It would be the Minas' first time at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees had one more surprise in store for this year's HOPE Week, and this one was for Alfonzo.

"I just wanted to say this," Zillo said, "You saw all of our players and our coaches and our manager and we bring all this attention, and I know you're thankful for them being here, but Sandra is the one that built it."

He then presented her and AdaptAbility with a $10,000 check to carry on their work.

"Oh my God, I have no words. This is amazing," Alfonzo said. "[The Yankees are] wonderful, you can see that they really want to help people just like we do. бн I really, really hope it will help my organization so we can help more kids."

More from MLB.com

seductrice.net
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
prowp.net
webmanicura.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
kftz5k.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
casino-natali.com
iprofit-internet.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
healthandfitnesslives.com
androidnews-jp.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
britsmile.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
rajasthancarservices.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
hemendekor.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com