MICHELE LEHMAN For the Journal Sep 6, 2016 |

EUREKA — A Eureka service organization and two local banks have given the gift of mobility to a Washington child with a crippling disease.

Eureka Greater Area Kiwanis Club, Goodfield State Bank and Heartland Bank provided $300 to purchase and modify a battery-operated toy ride-on car for 4-year-old Nadia Aberle, who suffers from spina bifida.

The car was retrofitted and recently given to Nadia and her parents, B.J. and Vickie Aberle, at Shriners Hospital for Children in Chicago, said Kiwanian Nancy Aldridge of Eureka, who helped retrofit the car.

“We modified the car to fit Nadia so that she can reach the pedals and also make it move,” Aldridge said. “Nadia was very quick to learn to maneuver her car. It was awesome to see how excited she was when she first made the car go.”

Nadia’s mom agreed. “It was easy for her to learn to maneuver with the hand-held controls. She loves it,” said Vickie Aberle.

Now, Nadia motors around her neighborhood participating in outdoor activities with the other kids, including her sisters, Tori, 8, and Elli, 7.

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