KINGSFORD, Mich. (BRAIN) — Steven Pringle, the owner and operator of Build a Bicycle and Bicycle Therapy in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, died Nov. 23 in an auto accident in Florida. Pringle was driving to deliver free bikes to kids who were displaced by Hurricane Ian.
Pringle, an Army veteran, started his shop as a way to help veterans
"He loved life and everything it had to offer," his family said on a GoFundMe set up to defray memorial costs. "He thrived on helping others, which led him to create a business using bikes as therapy, Build a Bicycle Therapy and Rolling Wheels. He ran programs for rehabilitated prisoners, people with disabilities, and more. He donated many bicycles to those who needed them including children in foster care, victims escaping domestic violence, churches, etc. He had just arrived in Florida to give bikes to hurricane victims when a terrible car accident took his life. As his children, we want his name and charity work to live on. We are hoping to continue his charity work for as long as possible and raise funds yearly in his honor. All donations will be used for his services and to purchase bikes for those in need."
According to news reports, Pringle was driving a pickup truck with a trailer of bikes when he drove through an intersection that was missing a stop sign due to the hurricane.
Pringle was profiled in the Detroit Free Press a few weeks before his death.
The Build a Bicycle, Bicycle Therapy website says that the company also operated a store in Sarasota, Florida, called Rolling Wheels.
