Elta Lincoln smiles as she sits on a specially-designed bicycle.

The 96-year-old has never been on a bicycle in her life, but that all changed Tuesday afternoon.

The special bike ride was part of a wish program at the Clair Hills Retirement Community in Waterloo. Lincoln wasn't expecting to get on a bike herself – her wish was to donate two bicycles to children – but staff at the retirement home surprised her with a ride.

"They should learn to ride a bike before they ride a car. They learn all the fundamentals of safety and that," Lincoln said of why she wanted to donate the bikes.

"It also gives you balance, it gives you a bit of freedom."

The two bikes were donated to Family and Children Services Waterloo Region.

The staff and Lincoln's family decided the wish should also include a bike ride for Lincoln. They used a bike provided by Chartwell Westmount Long Term Care facility in Kitchener and toured the neighbourhood near that residence.

Lincoln's daughter, Marlene Durrell, said her mom was orphaned when she was seven, then raised by an aunt.

The family didn't have much money and Lincoln was raised during the Depression.

"They were lucky to have food, let alone bikes and special gifts. But there was also a belief system in the family that she didn't need any more than that," Durrell said.

Wish program at seniors home

Many residents at Clair Hills in Waterloo have made wishes through the Living List program, said Kristen Lee, executive director of the retirement community.

"The premise of the program is that you're never too young to try something new and that at all stages of life, our hopes and dreams are well alive," Lee said.

There have been some interesting wishes. One resident wanted to dance the tango so they brought in private instructor, some went for helicopter or plane rides above Waterloo region while another person asked to ride an elephant.

Perhaps the most popular among all the residents was a free bar night, Lee said.

Elta Lincoln, 96, sits on a specially designed bike Tuesday afternoon. It was the first time she's ever gone for a bike ride. (Kate Bueckert/CBC) "It's a really good way to build the community within Clair Hills with the residents, with the staff and then also bringing our philosophy of vibrant seniors living into the local community," she said.

'I'm not going to make anymore wishes'

Lincoln grew up in Hamilton and moved to Waterloo region after her youngest son Will moved to the area to work for Home Hardware.

She smiled during the ride while staff and her family cheered.

"I think it went well," Durrell said.

"I think my mom's being a good sport," she added. "When you've got all your marbles and you're with it and having fun and having a good sense of humour at 96, I think that's pretty good."

Lincoln said she enjoyed the ride, even though someone else was driving, and she joked, "I'm not going to make anymore wishes."

Asked if she could make the wish again, what would she want?

"If I had my wish now, I would wish that I could drive a car decently, like other people," she said. "My husband was a good driver, so I let him drive, but I should have driven. All women should drive."