"He thrived on helping others which led him to create a business using bikes as therapy," his kids said.
A veteran and business owner from Michigan was killed in a car crash last month during a trip to Florida to give away free bikes to kids displaced by Hurricane Ian, as per his family. Steven Pringle, 57, was driving a truck filled with bikes in Punta Gorda on November 23 when the accident happened. His family told The Detroit-Free Press that after driving through an intersection that was missing a stop sign due to the storm, he was fatally struck by another vehicle. The investigation into the two-vehicle crash remains open as per a public information officer for Punta Gorda.
Pringle is remembered as a "proud father" of six and a grandfather to five. Loved ones say Pringle was committed to making a difference. "He thrived on helping others which led him to create a business using bikes as therapy, Build a Bicycle Therapy and Rolling Wheels," two of his children wrote on a GoFundMe page they created to raise money for his services and to further his charitable efforts to purchase bikes for those in need.
Pringle previously said that he came up with the idea to start a bike repair shop that gave back to veterans and others in need while he was living in a camper. "He really wanted to do as much good as he could," daughter Torri Pringle, 39, said. His son Jason Pringle said he'd been "blown away" by the impact his father made on his community. "I've got people reaching out to me saying 'Your father changed my son's life for the better,'" a 38-year-old said.
He "donated many bicycles" to children and victims of domestic violence among others. "One lady said, 'We couldn’t afford a bicycle, and your father gave my son a bicycle.' I was really blown away at the impact that he had," Jason said. A white bicycle was put up at the scene of the crash as a memorial and the words "may the legend live on" were written on it. Besides raising money to help cover funeral costs, his family said that they hope to be able to continue the good work their father had been doing for all these years.
"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," Torri and Christina Pringle wrote on the fundraising page.
Pringle earlier this year said that he had been in despair, eating poorly and living in a camper when he had an awakening while praying the Catholic rosary, per Associated Press. It eventually turned into Build a Bicycle | Bicycle Therapy, a shop in Kingsford where he fixed bikes, sold new ones, and gave many away. "I've had people in the beginning who told me, 'You donate too much,'" Pringle said. "But the more we donate, the more that comes back at the end of the day. I don’t need money. What am I gonna do with it, collect it and save it?"
References:
https://apnews.com/article/business-michigan-accidents-12cf54978ffd9939791b5ecf545d654f
https://www.gofundme.com/f/steve-pringle-memorial?member=23643747
https://www.buildabicyclebicycletherapy.com/
Cover Image Credits: GoFundMe
