Emily Dencklau and her daughter, Aubreigh Ballard, were surprised Tuesday with an adaptive bicycle from Variety — The Children’s Charity. The bicycle was sponsored by Decker Truck Line Inc. in Fort Dodge.

FORT DODGE — Earlier this year, Emily Dencklau, of Fort Dodge, submitted an application to Variety — The Children’s Charity of Iowa — for an adaptive bicycle for her 10-year-old daughter, Aubreigh Ballard.

Little did she know that across town — on the very same day — Dale Decker, chief executive officer of Decker Truck Line Inc., had just agreed to fund a bicycle through Variety’s mobility project.

Decker surprised a smiling Ballard with her brand new bicycle built specifically for her special needs this week.

“When they called to tell me that Aubreigh would get a bicycle, I asked if they could tell me who had sponsored it,” Dencklau said. “I couldn’t believe it when they said it was Decker Truck Line. A local Fort Dodge business helping my daughter, and Aubreigh’s biological father drives a semi too. It all just means so much to me.”

Decker said that his family has worked with Variety for a number of years, helping with the telethons as well as with a number of projects.

But this year they decided to focus on Variety’s mobility program.

“We wanted to find a way this year to help with the mobility project in a way that would bring a child joy,” Decker said. “We are proud to have been able to sponsor her bike and to see the happiness that it is bringing her. It really means a lot to see that joy.”

The bicycle is part of Variety’s mobility focus which provides personalized mobility equipment to children with special needs to help them to gain confidence, freedom and mobility.

“We work with donors like Decker Truck Line to provide these specialized pieces of mobility equipment for children with special needs,” Alison Hanner, director of marketing and public relations at Variety — the Children’s Charity, said. “These pieces can range anywhere from $500 to $15,000 and are not covered by insurance. We know from working with families and physical therapists that these make all the difference for kids to help them to grow strong and work on their motor skills, but also to have that social inclusion and to be able to ride a bike just like every other kid.”

Ballard was born missing the middle part of her brain, leading to the left and right hemispheres not being able to communicate to each other, Dencklau said. She also has a genetic mutation on gene PPP2R1A that also is said to lead to developmental delays.

There was the question initially if Ballard would ever be able to walk.

Now not only is she able to walk, but she can ride her own bicycle too.

“This bike means that she gets to be normal,” Dencklau said through tears. “She’ll sit in the house and scream at the door because her brothers get to be outside and they get to ride bikes. Or we’ll sit on the porch and she’ll try to run down the street after them. But now, we actually get to be with them and ride bikes together as a family.

“This is a huge gift for her. For a kid who loves to be outside and on the go, this is amazing. It’s like Christmas!”