Bike modified for Jacksonville teen with special needs stolen

A bike modified for a Jacksonville teen with special needs was stolen Saturday from a San Pablo apartment complex. The bike was worth about $3,000, but what the suspect took was worth so much more.

Chanel Nazario is 16-years-old and has cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus. She’s overcome eight surgeries in her life.

“The bike was her second set of legs besides being confined to the wheelchair,” Aimee Lance, Chanel’s mom, said.

Lance said Saturday morning she went outside and realized the bike was gone from outside their Coquina Bay Apartment unit.

“She’s gone through a lot. For something like that to be taken — it’s pretty low,” Lance said.

Chanel won the bike five years ago in a contest. It’s worth about $3,000, but family members said the joy it brought was priceless. They just ask that bike be returned.

They posted about it on social media and received an outpouring of support through dozens of comments. A stranger who doesn’t know the family has since offered to purchase a new modified bike for Chanel.

“It was a huge blessing and we are so thankful,” Lance said.

The new bike was ordered Tuesday and they plan to surprise Chanel with in about two weeks when it arrives.

Since airing Chanel’s story, another family reached out to Action News Jax and said their daughter’s modified bike was also stolen back in June. We have reached out to the family to learn more about what happened.

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