Logan Barker and his mother Bonita Taylor cruising around on his new bike.

Family, friends and even some of Live Oak’s finest showed up to Suwannee High School on Thursday, April 9, to watch as Logan Barker was presented with a special needs bike. 

Logan’s mom Bonita Taylor entered a nation-wide contest in order to receive a bike like the one Logan was presented. 

“Unfortunately, we were unable to get the amount of votes we needed to win,” said SHS ESE teacher Candy Vickers. 

Taylor then contacted Buddy Williams, Live Oak chief of police and father to one of Logan’s classmates to see if there was any way to hold a fundraiser so Logan could get the bike, which cost over $5,000. 

Vickers said that within one week the money for the bike had been raised. 

“The students from my class were in the Suwannee County Fair parade the week before, and won the first place prize of $100,” said Vickers. “They decided they wanted to donate their winnings to their friend Logan.”

SHS and the Live Oak community were not the only ones willing to help raise the money. 

“We put out a challenge throughout the school district to help raise money,” said Vickers. “Mrs. Wynette Sumner’s fifth grade class from Branford accepted the challenge and within four days had raised over $800.” 

Funds from a yard sale and car wash on Saturday, April 11, were intended to help defray the cost of the bike, but since the bike had already been purchased, the money raised from the fundraiser was put into an account. 

“This money will be used when there is another need for something else for our very special population of special needs students,” said Vickers.