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KEARNS — A boy with autism woke up Tuesday to find his bike had been stolen from his grandparents yard. But thankfully, a KSL viewer stepped up to the plate and made sure he wasn't sidelined long.
A.J. Garrick is 15 years old and during the summer, his favorite thing to do is ride his bike. He was surprised with a new one on Thursday.
"He's going to be really excited," said Yvonne Masse, A.J.'s grandmother.
Garrick is autistic, and when KSL-TV shared the story of his stolen bike with our viewers, they responded.
Specifically, a man named Daniel who works at a Salt Lake cabinet shop came through.
"(Daniel) had a bike that he had had for a while," Masse said. "A three-wheel bike and he would love to give it to A.J."
He had a bike that he had had for a while. A three-wheel bike and he would love to give it to A.J.
–Yvonne Masse
The Good Samaritan donated the bike because of the story he saw on KSL-TV. All his grandmother had to do was go pick it up.
KSL-TV was there Thursday when Garrick laid eyes on his shiny new Schwinn. His family says it looks just like the stolen bike his dad had given him — the last present he got before his dad passed away.
For a teen with autism, this bike means more than anyone knows. It means Garrick gets his freedom back, something that's his...and for that we can all thank Daniel.
"Thank you Daniel," Garrick said with a big smile on his face.
And before the sun went down, there was time for one ride into the sunset. Garrick took his sister Star for a ride — hopefully one of many to come.
