Bo’s Story | Bo Bikes Bama

It all starts with a legend.

Five hundred miles away from his home state, Bo Jackson watched in shock as a series of devastating tornadoes ripped through Alabama on April 27, 2011, claiming hundreds of lives and destroying countless homes. While many sat powerless to help, Bo knew he wanted to do something special for the people back home—and that’s where the Bo Bikes Bama story began.

The reason for this ride is for state unity and to pay homage to the great Alabamians who lost their lives on April 27th, 2011. I am my brothers’ and sisters’ keeper. - Bo Jackson

On the first anniversary of the storms, Bo embarked on a five-day journey across the state of Alabama, visiting many of the towns ravaged by the tornadoes. Joined by celebrity friends like Scottie Pippin, Ken Griffey, Jr., Picabo Street, and Al Joyner, Bo impacted the lives of countless Alabamians who rode with him and cheered for him along the way. Bo Bikes Bama became an annual event in April 2013, when Bo returned to Alabama for a one-day ride in Cordova, Alabama, one of the hardest hit cities of the 2011 outbreak.

Each year, Bo hopes to inspire Alabamians and people across the country to lend their neighbors a helping hand. Money raised by Bo Bikes Bama goes to support the Alabama Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund, which provides funds for natural disaster relief and the construction of community safe rooms and warning sirens across the state.

Bo Bikes Bama by the numbers

Bo Bikes Bama supports the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund (GERF), which was established immediately following the April 27, 2011 tornadoes. The fund helps Alabamians who have exhausted all other avenues of disaster relief provided by insurance, government funding and relief organizations. It also finances the construction of community safe rooms and warning sirens.

^$115,950 raised in 2020

Over $2.1M Raised

Money raised supports the Alabama Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund, which has repaired 600 homes and built 68 community storm shelters.

Over 300k Miles

Participants range from Olympians to novices, uniting despite their experience levels to help the people of Alabama.

Riders from 31+ states

The ride has grown to annually attract well over 1,000 cyclists each year from across the country and riders have traveled from as far as England to be a part of Bo Bikes Bama.

^$3,889,321

Funds Spent on Repairs

600

Homes repaired/served

^$6,482

Average cost of repair/service

^$1,834,173

Total funds spent on safe rooms

68

Number of safe rooms constructed

7,700

Number of sheltered individuals

^$241

Average cost per person

10

Number of emergency warning sirens installed

^$19,685

Funds spent on public hazard debris removal

These numbers were updated December 2020

Thank you to our generous sponsors

Our sponsors are an integral part of Bo Bikes Bama’s success in supporting the Alabama Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund each year. Take a look at who keeps us riding for the cause.

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In memory of the lives lost on April 27, 2011

Bibb County: Ricky Paul Smith, 55, Brent

Calhoun County: Ruby Douthitt, 61, Ohatchee; Michael Thomas Forrest, 54, Ohatchee; Tina Marie Forrest, 50, Ohatchee; Francis Arvella Jones, 72, Ohatchee; William Limpscomb, 67, Wellington; Linda Sue Limpscomb, 63, Wellington; Vernon Spencer Motes, 33, Webster’s Chapel; James Romaine, 65, Ohatchee; Angel Marie May Stillwell, 13, Piedmont

Cullman County: Lloyd Winford Harris, 68, Cullman; Keenan Jonathan Sullivan, 20, Johnson Crossing

DeKalb County: Chelsie Black,20, Higdon; Charlotte Bludsworth, 36, Sylvania; Belinda Boatner, 67, Higdon; Gene Bullock, 65, Rainsville; Marcella Wells Bullock, 64, Rainsville; Jewell Ewing, 73, Higdon; Emma Ferguson, 6, Henagar-Sylvania; Jeremy Ferguson, 34, Henagar-Sylvania; Tawnya Ferguson, 32, Henagar-Sylvania; Hannah Goins, 3, Rainsville; Kenneth Graham, 56, Valley Head; Linda Graham, 62, Valley Head; Violet Hairston, 90, Fort Payne; Patricia Harcrow, 75, Rainsville; Harold Harcrow, 74, Rainsville; Jody Holliday Huizenga, 28, Sylvania; Lethel Izell, 86, Rainsville; Jimmy Michael Kilgore, 48, Sylvania; Courtney Jo McGaha, 15, Fort Payne; William Michaels, 70, Higdon; Martha Michaels, 72, Higdon; Eulah Miller, Moore’s Crossroads; Ida Jessie Ott, 87, Henagar; Timothy Ott, 53, Henagar; Esther Rosson, 81, Rainsville; Peggy L. Wanda Sparks, 55, Rainsville; Terry Tinker, 50, Higdon; William Daniel Vermillion, 42, Fort Payne; Jilda Jo Bergeron Vermillion, 44, Fort Payne; Hubert Wooten, 70, Rainsville; Juanita Wooten, 70, Rainsville; Judith White, 63, Flat Rock; Wayne White, 68, Flat Rock

Elmore County: Candice Hope Abernathy, 23, Eclectic area; Kammie June Abernathy, 5, Eclectic area; Mary Alice Lee, 74, Lake Martin; Martha Ann Gray Myers, 67, Eclectic area; Melissa Ann “Missy” Myers Gantt, 43, Eclectic area; Rebecca Lee Woodall, 70, Lake Martin

Fayette County: Jeffrey W. Kemp, 60, Berry; Reba Kemp, 60, Berry; Leon Spruell, 76, Berry; Sylvia Spruell, 69, Berry

Franklin County: Donna Renee Berry, 52, Double Springs; Nila Jo Black, 68, Phil Campbell; Zan Reese Black, 46, Phil Campbell; Jeffrey Dewight Cotham, 35, Phil Campbell; Jack Cox, 78, Phil Campbell; Charlene Crochet, 41, Russellville; Donnie Gentry, 63, Phil Campbell; Patricia Gentry, 50, Phil Campbell; Donald R. Heaps, 49, Russellville; Lester W. Hood, 81, Phil Campbell; James Robert Keller Jr., 33, Phil Campbell; Ricky Ethan Knox, 10, Phil Campbell; Amy LeClere, 33, Phil Campbell; Jay W. LeClere, 45, Phil Campbell; Dagmar Leyden, 56, Russellville; Edgar Mojica, 10, Russellville; Claudia I. Mojica, 38, Phil Campbell; Kelli Thorn Morgan, 24, Russellville; Mike Morgan, 32, Russellville; Edna Lucille Bradley Nix, 89, Phil Campbell; Martha Lou Nix Pace, 64, Phil Campbell; Georgia Schribner, 83, Phil Campbell; Jack E. Tenhaeff, 67, Russellville; Sonya Collette Trapp, 48, Phil Campbell; Carroll Dean “C.D.” Waller, 76, Phil Campbell; Gerri Waller, 64, Phil Campbell

Hale County: Cora L. Brown, 68, Greensboro; Gerald C. Brown, 70, Greensboro; Jerry Lee Hodge, 64, Sawyerville; Henry Lewis, 26, Sawyerville; Frankie Lunsford, 55, Sawyerville; Elizabeth C. White, 25, Sawyerville

Jackson County: Kathy Gray Haney, 46, Pisgah; Herbert Satterfield, 91, Pisgah; Ann Satterfield, 81, Pisgah; Janie Shannon, 80, Higdon originally from Chickamauga, Ga.; Shelba Jean Shannon, 58, Flat Rock; Katherine Elease Whited, 76, Flat Rock; John Whited, 77, Flat Rock; Branen Warren, 13, Bridgeport

Jefferson County: Milton Edward Baker, 68, Cahaba Heights; Bessie Brewster, 72, Pratt City; Iva Mae Cantrell, 73, Pleasant Grove; James Jerry Clements, 66, Pleasant Grove; Cheryl Denise Cooper, 47, Pleasant Grove; Canatha Hyde Earley, 71, Pleasant Grove; Mae Bell Garner, 87, Kimberly; Janet Dickinson Hall, 55, Concord; Reba Jane Jones, 76, Pleasant Grove; Jennifer Leonard Jones, 26, Concord; Michelle Kreider, 30, Concord; Michael David Kreider, 10, Concord; Haley Alexis Kreider, 8, Concord; Carrie Grier Lowe, 26, Pleasant Grove; Ernest C. Mundi, Jr., 53, Concord; Kenneth Ray Nation, 64, Forestdale; Deniece Kemp Presely, 57, Birmingham; Louella Polarie Thompson, 81, Pleasant Grove; Tracy Traweek, 39, Pleasant Grove; Nancy Lynn Wilson, 56, Pleasant Grove; Ramona Sanders-Walker, 47, Pleasant Grove

Lawrence County: Matthew Adams, 21, Moulton; Earl Lewis Crosby Sr., 63, Mount Hope; Mike Daworld Dunn, 58, Moulton; Aurelia Guzman, 12, Moulton; Zora Lee Jones Hale, 80, Hillsboro; Lyndon Lee Doby Mayes, 74, Langtown; Mary C. Mayes, 76, Langtown; J.W. Parker, 78, Mount Hope; Donald “Duck” Ray, 73, Chaleybeate; Horace Grady Smith, 83, Moulton; Helen Smith, 84, Mount Hope; Allen O’Neal Terry, 49, Moulton; Herman O’Neal Terry, 80, Moulton; Edward Vuknic, 66, Chaleybeate

Limestone County: Carol Jan McElyea, 67, Athens; Janice Dorothy Peden Riddle, 54, Tanner; Roger Glen Riddle, 55, Tanner; Shannon Gail Sampson, 39, Madison

Madison County: Gregory John Braden, 58,Toney; Katie Cornwell, 15, Harvest; Harold Fitzgerald, 65, Harvest; Milinia Nicole Hammonds, 32, Harvest; Ronnie McGaha, 40, Harvest; Bobby Joe Moore, 61, Harvest; Philomena Muotoe, 79, Toney; Frederick Post, 72, Harvest; Rachel Renee Tabor, 37, Harvest

Marion County: Rodney Gene Ables, 51, Hamilton; Bridget Barnwell Brisbois, 34, Hackleburg; Michelle Brown, 43, Hamilton; Robbie Cox, 68, Hackleburg; Tina Donais, 36, Hackleburg; Chris Dunn, 32, Hackleburg; Charles Tommy Garner, 75, Hackleburg; Mae Garner, 79, Hackleburg; Ed Hall, 53, Hackleburg; Teresa Gay Hall, 50, Hackleburg; Tammy Johnson, 54, Hamilton; Donna Lee “Leah” Jokela, 77, Hackleburg; Kaarlo Jokela, 76, Hackleburg; Linda Faye Knight, 57, Phil Campbell; Freddie Lollie, 81, Hackleburg; Vickey Lollie, 55, Hackleburg; John Lynch, Hackleburg; Cledis Inez McCarley, Hackleburg; Vicky McKee, 47, Hackleburg; Faye O’Kelley, Hackleburg; Jacob Ralph Ray, 5, Hamilton; Virginia Jenny Ann Revis, 53, Hamilton; Ken Vaughn, 24, Hackleburg; Allan Mark Wideman, 49, Hamilton; Jeanette Cochran Wideman, 52, Hamilton

Marshall County: Ann Hallmark, 54, Arab; Jayden Hallmark, 17 months, Arab; Jennifer Hallmark, 31, Arab; Phillip Hallmark, 56, Arab; Shane Hallmark, 37, Arab

St. Clair County: Oberia Layon Ashley, 86, Ragland; Precious Necale Fegans-Hartley, 27, Pell City; Leah Brianne Isbell, 7, Ashville; Ronnie Eugene Isbell, 56, Ashville; Tammy Bonita Isbell, 32, Ashville; Bertha Smith Kage, 91, Shoal Creek; Thomas Carl Lee, 64, Ashville; Stella Mae Lovell, 97, Springville; Gayle McCrory, 56, Odenville; Sandra C. Pledger, 68, Leeds; Albert Luther Sanders, 44, Ashville; Angela Lynn Sanders, 43, Ashville; Charlie Andrew Wolfe, 68, Ashville; Nettie Ruth Wolfe, 68, Ashville

Tallapoosa County: Katherine Blanche Massa, 70, Dadeville

Tuscaloosa County: Minnie Acklin, 73, Tuscaloosa; Jeffrey Artis, 51, Tuscaloosa; Scott Atterton, 23, UA student from Bryant; Jennifer V. Bayode, 35, Tuscaloosa; Caiden Blair, 2 months; Michael Bowers, 3, Tuscaloosa; Loryn Alexandria Brown, 21, died Tuscaloosa, from Wetumpka; Mary Bryant, 43, Tuscaloosa; Hugh Graham Davie, 55, Tuscaloosa; Ta’ Christianna Dixon, 8 months, Tuscaloosa; Danielle Downs, 24, Tuscaloosa; Arielle Edwards, 22, Tuscaloosa; MaKayla S. Edwards, 5, Tuscaloosa; Melgium Farley, 58, Tuscaloosa; Cedria Harris, 8, Tuscaloosa; Keshun Harris, 5, Tuscaloosa; Ashley Harrison, 22, UA student from Dallas, Texas; ShenaHutchins, 26, Tuscaloosa/Rosedale; Carolyn Ann Jackson, 50, Tuscaloosa; Jacqueline Jefferson, 45, Tuscaloosa; Thelma May Bennett Krallman, 89, Tuscaloosa; Tennie Mozelle Lancaster, 95, Tuscaloosa; Davis Lynn Gordo Lathem, 57, Tuscaloosa; Velma T. LeRoy, 64, Tuscaloosa; Dorothy Lewis, 61, Tuscaloosa; Thomas D. Lewis, 66, Tuscaloosa; Yvonne Mayes, 30s, Tuscaloosa; Yvonne Mayes, 30s, Tuscaloosa; Christian A. McNeil, 15 months, Tuscaloosa; William Robert McPherson, 85, Forest Lake; Zyqueria McShan, 2, Tuscaloosa; Melanie Nicole Mixon, 21, UA student from Mulga; Perry Blake Peek, 24, Tuscaloosa; Lola Pitts, 85, Tuscaloosa; Terrilyn Plump, 37, Tuscaloosa; Kevin Rice, 36, Tuscaloosa; Annie Lois Humphries Sayer, 88, Tuscaloosa; Judy Darlene Rheams Sherrill, 62, Brookwood; Morgan Marlene Sigler, 23, UA student from Bryant; Marcus J. Smith, age 21, Tuscaloosa; William Chance Stevens, 22, Tuscaloosa; Justin Leeric Thomas, 15, Tuscaloosa; Patricia Hodo Turner, 55, Tuscaloosa; Willie Lee (Trey) Turner III, 21, Tuscaloosa

Walker County: Kathleen Brown, 64, Oakman; Jonathan Doss, 12, Cordova; Justin Doss, 10, Cordova; Pam Jett, 43, Sipsey; Harold “Junior” Jett, 47, Sipsey; Annette Singleton, 46, Cordova; Wesley L. Starr, 46, Cordova; Jackson Van Horn, 24, Cordova; Lucille Waters, 89, Argo

Source: AL.com

The below companies are the producing partners of Bo Bikes Bama and generously contribute valuable resources and manpower to make this ride possible each year.

Trek Bicycle is a global leader in the design and manufacture of bicycles and related products. Trek believes the bicycle can be a simple solution to many of the world’s most complex problems, and is committed to breaking down the barriers that prevent people from using bicycles more often for transportation, recreation, and inspiration.

Trek has been a partner of Bo Bikes Bama since its inception in 2012 and continues to support this important ride and the people of Alabama.

Visit Trek

Founded on the idea of making a difference while making a living, Big Communications is an avid advocate for all things Alabama. A proud initial partner of Bo Bikes Bama, Big is a full-service creative communications agency offering public relations, content marketing, interactive, design, media, brand consulting, and creative services. This Birmingham-based company represents clients spanning a multitude of industries from across the nation.

Visit BIG

Trek Travel, a 2022 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Tour Operator, has been curating extraordinary cycling vacations around the globe for over 20 years. Featuring a variety of accommodations, award-winning guides, and the best bikes in the industry from Trek Bikes – Trek Travel vacations are sure to delight riders of every level. Our team is made up of bike-lovers and travelers, and we are extremely passionate about our world-renowned hospitality. So, are you looking to explore the world on two-wheels? Let us show you what a cycling vacation of a lifetime is all about.

Trek Travel has been supporting Bo Bikes Bama since the very beginning in 2012 and we look forward to continuing to support this amazing cause and the wonderful people of Alabama.

Visit Trek Travel