Cycling. Mentorship. Health. Three pillars. One unbreakable commitment — to the streets, the youth, and the community of Akron, Ohio.
Bicycle Ride vs. Gun Violence uses cycling, mentorship, and health to interrupt gun violence, cultivate purposeful lives, and advance the well-being of minority men and women across Northeast Ohio.
"Pedal for Peace turns heartbreak into motion. We want kids to see that teamwork, leadership, and safe streets are stronger than any trigger."
— Reggie Boyer, FounderWhen Reggie Boyer lost his son Darrick to gun violence in 2019, he didn't fold. He organized. He rode. He built something that would outlast the grief.
What started as a single community bike ride has grown into a three-pillar movement — uniting cycling, structured youth mentorship, and a comprehensive minority community health initiative. Bicycle Ride vs. Gun Violence now operates across all three programs at pedalandpurpose.org — a mission that has grown to match the scale of the need.
We operate at the intersection of community safety, personal development, and public health — because you cannot fix one without the others.
Read Our Full Story ✦Each pillar reinforces the others — and together they open three separate funding universes simultaneously.
High-visibility community rides transforming neighborhood streets from zones of fear into corridors of fellowship — with youth, first responders, and community members riding side by side.
Explore rides →A formal, screened mentorship program matching vetted adults with at-risk youth — with minimum 12-month commitments, structured outcomes tracking, and life skills development.
Become a mentor →A state-of-the-art health initiative advancing health equity for Black and minority men and women — free screenings, mental health care, digital health access, and community-based wellness at trusted local locations.
See the initiative →"We don't just ride to remember —
we ride to change what happens next."
Whether you're a mentor, a rider, a clinician, a funder, or someone who just needs to do something real — this movement has a place for you.