Mark Lyons continues to raise money and give back to support autism programs in the area in honour of his son Jack Lyons who passed away in April of 2022.
Despite the wintry weather, Lyons says more equipment arrived recently to add to the Jack Lyons Playground behind One Kids Place on the north end of North Bay.
"We have got one more piece that is going to come in the spring that we expanded it again in hoping to help our special needs kids in the community with this playground so we keep that legacy for Jack going," he said.
"There are some good things on the go at One Kids Place with the Autism Program. The kids in that program use the Jack Lyons Playground every day so I have seen the benefits of it and it is a really good feeling when I am out there and I can hear how happy they are using it because that is what Jack used to do."
Lyons also re-introduced his Jack Lyons socks last week to raise funds for autism programming in the area.
Lyons hopes the socks fundraising along with a pair of events such as the Jack Lyons high school hockey game and the Ride for Jack event, will help support yet another initiative he hopes will support local special needs kids and families. That is the purchase of a buddy bike.
"It is a bicycle built for two, specialty equipment again," explained Lyons.
"They are very expensive but it is needed," noted Lyons as it has a price tag of $10,000.
Lyons insists this latest project has got to get done.
"I have to find a way to do it and I am going to find a way to do it," said Lyons.
"It gives the ability for kids with special needs to have them on the front of the bike with a parent on the back and teach them how to ride a bike at a younger age where there is control and in a safe place. It will help get them to ride a bike on their own at some point. If that is going to happen I have to find a way to figure it out."
Lyons is working on outdoor camps; working in conjunction with Camp Tillicum as well as hoping to connect special needs kids with Lego robotics camps.
To purchase Jack Lyons socks contact Mark at [email protected].
