Cycling. Mentorship. Health. Three pillars. One unbreakable commitment — to the streets, the men, and the children of Akron, Ohio.
Bicycle Ride vs. Gun Violence uses cycling, mentorship, and health to interrupt gun violence, cultivate purposeful men, and advance the well-being of minority men 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, Big Brothers Big Sisters-style mentorship, and a minority men's health initiative. Bicycle Ride vs. Gun Violence now operates under the banner Pedal & Purpose at pedalandpurpose.org — a fuller name for 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.
See How We Work ✦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.
A formal, screened mentorship program matching vetted adults with at-risk youth — modeled after Big Brothers Big Sisters with minimum 12-month commitments and structured outcomes tracking.
Evidence-based health programming closing the life expectancy gap for Black and minority men in Summit County — free screenings, mental health access, and community-based fitness at trusted local locations.
"We don't just ride to remember —
we ride to change what happens next."
Youth with a mentor are 55% more likely to enroll in college and significantly less likely to be involved in violence. That's not a statistic. That's a life.
Black men in Summit County die earlier, get diagnosed later, and access care less than any other group. We're not waiting for the system. We're bringing the resources to the block — for free.
Monthly clinics at barbershops, churches, and community centers. Blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, PSA. No appointment. No cost. No barriers.
Free · No AppointmentTrauma-informed counseling for gun violence survivors, grieving families, and men carrying invisible wounds that the streets never let them put down.
Culturally CompetentGroup rides that simultaneously build cardiovascular health, reduce stress, and create the brotherhood of doing something hard alongside men who show up.
Every SaturdayPractical, culturally rooted nutrition programming that addresses chronic disease without shame — grounded in economic reality and community food traditions.
Monthly WorkshopsWe go where men already are. Partner barbershops host monthly conversations about hypertension, fatherhood, mental health, and chronic disease.
Community-BasedMedicaid enrollment, primary care connections, prescription access, and guidance through a healthcare system that was never designed with Black men in mind.
Case ManagementOur signature annual ride — 7 miles through Akron's neighborhoods. Youth alongside first responders. Followed by food, music, health resources, and a ribbon ceremony honoring those we've lost.
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.
Start Your Application ✦100% of every donation goes directly to programming — rides, mentorship, health screenings, and equipment.