Grandmother's First Bike Ride Ever at Age 88 Thanks to Custom-Made Gift From Grandson
At age 88, a Pennsylvania grandmother proved you’re never too old to try something new.
Thanks to some hard work and ingenuity on the part of her grandson, Pauline Tornetta received the birthday gift she has wanted her entire life.
Tornetta, called “Mom-Mom,” by her loved ones, yearned her entire life for one particular birthday gift: her very own bicycle. But she never got one, until now.
Tornetta’s grandson, Andrew Fusco, seems to have a beautiful pairing of mechanical ability and kindheartedness.
He gave his grandma a gift that few people could have given — he engineered a custom-made tandem bicycle so that he could take his grandma on her very first bicycle ride.
Fusco’s wife, Sarah, shared the delightful story on Facebook, saying that when her husband sets his mind to doing something kind for others, he comes through in a “grandiose” sort of way.
Fusco spent two weeks on Mom-Mom’s gift, welding an old tricycle to the back of his mountain bike.
The tricycle was outfitted with an old office chair so that Tornetta could hold onto the arms of the chair and ride comfortably.
On July 8, Tornetta took her very first ride on the Schuylkill River Trail in Pennsylvania. Wearing a massive smile and waving at her fans, Mom-Mom was eager for the maiden voyage.
When everyone was set, Fusco began to pedal, with Mom-Mom happily following along behind.
Finally, at 88, Tornetta got to feel the wind blow through her hair on a lovely summer’s day as the bicycle sailed through the breeze.
Sarah Fusco shared the video and photos on social media, and people swooned over the thoughtful, heartwarming story.
Mom-Mom has started making headlines, which her family hopes will encourage others to search out their own ways to be kind.
“All WE ask is that you do something kind for someone else,” the Fusco’s told WPVI-TV, granting permission for the news station to share their story. “Always pay it forward.”
We hope this family has the opportunity to enjoy many, many more bike rides together.
Viewers around the country are in agreement — this video is one of the most heartwarming that we’ve seen in a long time.
Submit your story here, and subscribe to our best uplifting stories here.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.
