Upon receiving a letter that a local teenager was in need of a new tricycle, the Knights of Columbus, Council 2204, felt they needed to do what they've always done - help those in need. For 14-year-old Thomas Roedig, a new tricycle meant more than owning a piece of athletic equipment, it also signified independence.

Thomas Roedig, who lives with his parents Angela and Robert and four siblings in Farmingdale, is diagnosed with left cerebral infraction and right hemiparesis, with a history of seizure disorders. He is under medication to help treat the seizures and his neurologist recommended that he get a new tricycle, as he outgrew the one he received when he was about 8 or 9 years old. The only problem was that Medicaid paid for the original "trike" that Thomas had and only recently stopped funding such items.

The Roedig family reached out to Options Unlimited, a healthcare and disability management and benefits firm, who in turn contacted St. Kilians Roman Catholic Church, of which the Roedigs are members. According to Knights of Columbus Council 2204 Deputy Grand Knight Tex Blackwell, the letter was forwarded to their organization from St. Kilians, as the two often work together.

Blackwell noted that the letter touched members of the organization, who felt that they needed to help this boy. Noting that not only would a new tricycle help Thomas improve his strength and mobility, but that biking is a sport he enjoys with his whole family.

"There are few things that he can actually do with his entire family," Blackwell explained. "When we got this letter, we knew that we really wanted to help him. This family lives right here in Farmingdale, they go to church right here in Farmingdale and they are members of this community. Thomas is a wonderful kid and the Roedigs are a wonderful family. That's what it's all about."

Blackwell added that while the price of a new tricycle was a little steeper than what their budget usually allows, the Knights really wanted to help this family. Working with Options Unlimited, the Knights of Columbus located a manufacturer that could custom make a tricycle for Thomas. Blackwell noted that Options Unlimited, particularly Donna Panarello and Sonja Robertson, the two nurses who worked on this matter, saw this project through with the Knights to the very end.

"They stayed right with us; went with us when we visited the family, were there for every question and helped with the manufacturer," he said. "They helped us work it all out so we could make this happen.

"This is what the Knights of Columbus is all about, helping the needy and doing charity work and running various charity functions to help people afford things they otherwise couldn't," Blackwell added. "The big reward for doing this was when we went to see him and told him he was going to get it for Christmas, the exuberance and real gratefulness of this young man and his parents made it worthwhile."