Mike is one of our collection managers who hosts an event in Severna Park. It's not just any collection event. This is the Ann Jackson and Friends collection event! And Mike is one of the 'Friends'. But he's not just any ole Friend.
Ann hosted an event with us going back before we were 2005. There was Pat Jackson and Pete and Ellen Berty and Mike McCormick. They are all family and we also consider them part of the BfW family. Ann carried on the tradition of hosting an Ann Jackson & Friends collection at Pedal Pushers for years, up until her unexpected death in 2022.
The following year her husband Mike picked up where she left off and continued the tradition in her memory. Mike also lost a dear friend, Jack Koczela, the same year and hosted the collection in his memory as well (Jack was a big cyclist). Mike worked the collection alongside Ann every year so he definitely knew his way around and it showed.
Mike partnered up with Rod at Pedal Pushers, just as they had for decades, and they ended up donating 139 bikes to Bikes for the World that year. Not quite a record, but inching up on that mark Ann set in 2005 when they collected 146 bikes. This year was a little lighter but they still had a great turn out at Pedal Pushers this fall.
Throughout the life of our partnership with Pedal Pushers, Bikes for the World has donated 2,630 bikes rescued from the shop and/or community members donating bikes at Ann and Mike's collections. This is such a wonderful way to remember Ann (a favorite around BfW) and Jack. Ann was always looking for ways bikes could make a difference abroad as well as in her neighborhood. It's great to think we will continue to improve lives around the world through Ann's spirit. Also remembering her work with the AAC Watershed it's hard to walk around Severna Park and not remember the impact she continues to have on the environment there.