$5,000 Bicycle Donated To Upland Girl, 10, To Help Alleviate Disabilities

UPLAND (CBSLA.com) — A 10-year-old girl Thursday received a special bike to help alleviate her disabilities.

Kayla Hall has suffered from a congenital disease, known as Prader-Willi Syndrome, since birth. The syndrome causes low muscle tone, reduced mental ability and insatiable hunger. Kayla also suffers from a severe form of juvenile scoliosis, and wears a cast to correct her spine.

Unfortunately, the back condition left her unable to do the one thing she loves the most, which is to ride a bike, unaided.

Kayla's mother, Melissa, was unable to afford the $5,000 bicycle that would accommodate the special needs.

CBS2 and KCAL9 viewers stepped up to help out after Melissa -- a single working mother -- set up a GoFundMe page.

"I thought it was a dream," Melissa told CBS2's Kristine Lazar, "I thought this kind of stuff doesn't happen."

On Thursday morning the dream came true when Kayla got a bike.

The dream started in February when CBS2 first did a piece on Kayla and her need for wheels.

After the piece aired, funds poured in.

"That night, I was in my living room," says Castillo, "I was crying and laughing all at the same time."

One individual alone gave $3,000. The $5,000 goal was quickly shattered.

And then the news got even better, a local non-profit -- Variety: The Children's Charity of Southern California -- offered to donate the bike so Castillo could save the GoFundMe money for Kayla's daily care.

"When you put a child with disabilities on a bike," says Elizabeth O'Neill with Variety Children's Charity, "those disabilities often just fade away."

Castillo is in awe of the generosity of the public and Variety.

For more info about the group that donated the bike, click here.