Every time one 11-year-old leaves his house, he faces long stares, pointing and laughing, just because he looks different from the crowd.
Broadway Chopper owner Lee Sikes wanted to help bring an end to the snickering and unpleasant attention his son receives on an almost daily basis so he organized the inaugural Little People of America “Ride with Pride” fundraiser. The event, held Sunday, July 29, aimed to raise awareness about dwarfism and support the national nonprofit of the same name.
“When we go places, people want to think it is a spectacle,” Sikes said. “People want to point and make fun and ask questions … so I thought it would be a good way to let the community understand it is what you are born with; nothing to point fingers at or make light of.”
Sikes’ wife, Manon, said sometimes all the negative attention becomes too much for Dylan, and he’ll opt not to leave the house.
“People are just plainly rude,” she said. “They look, they point, they laugh, and we can get away from it by going by ourselves, but he’s stuck, he can’t get away. That is why it hurts us.”
Dylan and his family have faced medical trials and tribulations over the years and have to travel to Delaware in order to see a specialist dealing with dwarfism. When he was born, Dylan’s spinal column was too big, and he needed surgery before his first birthday.
Soon, Dylan will undergo another painful surgery, in which both of his legs will be broken. The reason for this is that some of Dylan’s leg bones are growing longer than others, which has left him with a bowleg condition that increases strain on his tendons and makes it painful to walk longer distances.
In order to support Dylan and connect with other families, Sikes helped form the local Little People of America chapter, which is scheduled to host the regional convention this year in Saratoga Springs. Sikes said the new Mohawk Valley Chapter has “exploded” since forming.
“You start meeting other families from this area with kids with it, and we started a support group,” he said.
Sikes said he sold his home in Schenectady and moved to Niskayuna so his son could be in the South Colonie Central School District. He said the district offered more resources at the time for his son.
“To properly take care of a son with disabilities, you have to change your whole life,” he said. “You have to find out what is best for them.”
Sikes said Dylan has an “unbelievable outgoing personality” and doesn’t let his condition get in the way of his life.
“Anybody that has a disability, God gives them something inside, man. They got strength,” Sikes said. “You are better served if you come to know these people instead of point at them and isolate yourself from them.”
Sikes had to hold back tears recalling a time he visited the Ronald McDonald House in Delaware, where he met a young girl just happy to see another nice day.
Around 4 a.m. he was sipping some coffee at the House and the little girl, who he could tell had some serious health issues, came down the stairs and said to him, “It is a beautiful day isn’t it.”
Then, she said, “I live to see another spring.”
Sikes said at that point something hit him — “When you are healthy you’re lucky.”
Dylan came riding into the event on the back of Jeff Weinstein’s Harley Davidson. That day though, Weinstein donned his Shriner clown attire and went by the name “Diddle.”
Dylan was greeted with high fives and many smiles. The street in front of the shop was already lined with several motorcycles upon his arrival, with any nearby parking hard to find.
“The bike world is a great world when you are an honest person and you live in it,” Sikes said. “Bikers are always ready to reach down to help somebody back up and lend a helping hand.”
Weinstein, 53, traveled from his hometown of Montreal, Canada, to attend the event. He also held the honors of taking Dylan on his first motorcycle ride. Weinstein’s bike had a high, padded backrest, forming a “U” shape to securely seat Dylan.
Weinstein said he and the Sikes have common friends, and when the family came to Montreal about a year and a half ago, he met them for the first time.
Dylan asked Weinstein to come down for the event, and he couldn’t pass up the invitation.
“It is all about Dylan,” he said. “For me it is all about kids. It doesn’t matter what the affliction is.”
He said it was great to give Dylan his first ride one a motorcycle.
“First time riding, he is looking around. He wants to see everybody, wave to everybody,” he said. “Getting him just to stay in one spot is going to be a challenge, but it is a challenge we are looking forward to.”
The ride stretched through Schenectady and Saratoga counties and returned locally to LT’s Grill in Niskayuna for the second half of the party.
LT’s Grill owner L.J. Goldstock said he met Dylan and his family when they came to his restaurant, and he’s felt a connection ever since then.
“(Dylan) just brings such happiness,” Goldstock said. “He doesn’t look at himself as a little person, and when he walks into a room, he has this personality that people are drawn to.”
Goldstock was very pleased with the turnout for the early-morning run and said he was pleased to offer his restaurant to Sikes for the event.
Dylan can’t change his condition, but Sikes hopes through raising awareness his day-to-day life might be a little easier.
“You can come to this dwarfism awareness run today, you can get around the dwarfs — you can talk to them, you can meet them, you can acknowledge them — then you can go home,” Sikes said. “They don’t leave that, they have it 24/7. … My son can’t walk away from this.”
