Greater New Mexico AMBUCS hosts first fundraiser in Albuquerque

An indoor sand volleyball court in Albuquerque became a fundraiser for mobility and independence as Greater New Mexico AMBUCS held its first major event at Charlie’s Sandbox.

The event, called Spikes for Trykes, brought community members together for a volleyball tournament on Saturday, June 6, and introduced more people in Bernalillo County to a chapter that only started in 2025. For a young nonprofit still building its name, the day was about more than money. It was a public debut for a group focused on a practical need: helping people with mobility impairments get around with greater independence.

AMBUCS provides adaptive tricycles, called Amtrykes, to children and others who need support with mobility. Those tricycles are built to give riders a way to move, play and participate in daily life in ways that standard bikes cannot. In New Mexico, where families often have to piece together specialized help from multiple sources, the chapter’s work fills a narrow but meaningful gap.

That is why the fundraiser mattered. The Greater New Mexico AMBUCS chapter needs donations to continue supplying Amtrykes, but it also needs visibility to keep that effort going long term. Victoria Esquibel, speaking for the chapter, said the group felt nervous because many people still do not know who they are, but she also said she was thankful for the support, the sponsors and the people who believe in what the organization is doing.

Charlie’s Sandbox gave the event a local setting that matched the mission. The Albuquerque venue’s indoor beach volleyball setup turned the fundraiser into a family-friendly gathering instead of a formal banquet or silent auction. That choice reflected a broader pattern among local nonprofits that rely on creative community events to reach new donors, volunteers and families who may not otherwise encounter their work.

For AMBUCS, the stakes are straightforward. More awareness can bring more support, and more support can translate into more Amtrykes for people across New Mexico who need mobility assistance. In Bernalillo County, where the organization is still establishing itself, this first major fundraiser marked the beginning of the relationship it will need to sustain that assistance over time.