Calgary

Calgary man with disabilities 'devastated' that beloved tricycle stolen

A man with physical and mental disabilities is very upset that the trike that someone swiped the trike he used to spend time with his children. "It opens up his world to be able to get outside because he doesn't have very much energy to do that," his wife says.

Bike swiped from Glenbrook garage

Suraj never learned to ride a two-wheeler. His wife says his tricycle was the only way he could get outside with his daugher Daniella, 9, and Nicholas, 6. (Family handout)

The wife of a Calgary man who lives with physical and mental disabilities says her husband is "devastated" that the tricycle he used to spend time with his kids got swiped.

The man's maroon-coloured Schwinn trike was stolen from the garage of their southwest Glenbrook home on Oct. 12, said wife Charlotte. She asked that the family's last name not be used to protect her husband's privacy.

"It opens up his world to be able to get outside because he doesn't have very much energy to do that," she told the Calgary Eyeopener.

The family is hoping someone will return Suraj's beloved tricycle. (Family handout)

Her husband, Suraj, has had brain surgery and suffered three brain hemorrhages. Ever since then, she said he gets very tired "very fast."

She said when he was growing up his family couldn't afford bicycles so he never learned to ride one.

"It was really hard to find things that would encourage him to get outside and be active," Charlotte said.

But the adult-sized tricycle solved that problem, allowing him to spend time with his six-year-old son, Nicholas, and daughter Daniella, 9.  

The family has been putting up posters in their neighbourhood, offering a reward. They're also asking for the public to spread the word on social media.

On Oct. 12, Suraj's maroon tricycle was stolen from the garage of his southwest Calgary home. (Submitted)

With files from the Calgary Eyeopener