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St. Paul Woman, 91, Wins Tricycle For Granddaughter With Autism

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 91-year-old St. Paul grandmother who says she never wins anything hit a mini-jackpot this weekend.

WCCO's cameras caught Mary Pat Flynn behind her shiny new adult-sized, motorized tricycle. She said she can't wait to cruise around on it this summer.

Joe Bush doesn't typically hand off his Fat Tire Trikes for free. But this one was different.

"I think she's as excited as I am to give it to her, so that's pretty cool," Bush said.

Flynn, who is 91 years old and has a granddaughter who has autism, got their big blue surprise.

Bush customized the color and modified what will be a motor-powered precision ride.

"This $2,000 trike cost Mary Pat $5; she won it in a St. Paul Winter Carnival raffle," Bush said.

"But after all these years of buying tickets and donating to things, I've never won anything substantial until this," Flynn said.

She told Joe she wanted to share her ride with her daughter Shelagh, so he made modifications.

"She has a problem with her muscles and knowing that little motor's on that's going to make it easier for her to do things," Bush said.

The result is two happy ladies with three generations and one bike between them.

Fat Tire Trikes is going to take the profits from the raffle that Flynn won and give it to a group that helps kids get their own bikes.

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