Amputee whose bike was stolen in SF gets loaner

[June 13, 2012]  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A double amputee whose custom-made, hand-cranked bicycle was stolen in San Francisco just before he was set to ride it across the country has a new bike thanks to a Berkeley nonprofit group.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports (http://bit.ly/LrCm9j) that the Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program loaned one of its hand cycles to Krzysztof Jarzebski on Saturday. The Polish Paralympics athlete then set off on his cross-country journey.

Jarzebski's $13,000 bike was stolen Thursday from the rectory quarters of the church he was staying at. It has not been recovered.

The 53-year-old Jarzebski lost his legs to cancer in 1991. He has ridden all over Europe on hand-cranked bicycles.

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Information from: San Francisco Chronicle, http://www.sfgate.com/

[Associated Press]

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