Let's Give the Axel Project Its Wings!

A few months back our little community of Outdoor Bloggers was rocked by the devastating news of the murder of 2 year old Axel Charrette. Through the heartache and tears has emerged an inspired Project that I now have the honor of sharing with you guys! The Charrette family has announced the launch of the Axel Project created in honor of Axel and its mission is to introduce and nurture a lifelong passion for cycling to children and their families.

Axel’s love for all things bikes, clearly instilled by his family’s passion for cycling, and his particular affinity for chasing his brother around on his Strider bike, led to the creation of the Axel Project, and its natural corporate partnership with Strider Sports International, Inc.

Randy Charrette, Axel’s father and Project co-founder, expressed his passion for the endeavor, “In the months after our loss we wanted to come up with a way to honor our son’s memory. We decided to set up the Axel Project. Axel loved his Strider and we loved watching him gain confidence and enjoy life as he rode around. By getting more children and families on bicycles we are helping build healthier communities and a better world.”

Axel Charrette

The Axel Project’s immediate goal is to provide balance bikes to children in need. Organizations can apply to receive Strider bikes, for a nominal fee which includes shipping, as well as instructions on teaching children the basics of riding, by filling out a simple online application on the Axel Project website: http://axelproject.com/apply.

Jen Charrette, Axel’s mother and Project co-founder, explains, “We believe biking not only builds confidence in young children but also improves health, is an outlet to express pure joy, is a foundation to a lifelong appreciation of nature, and helps strengthen family bonds because it’s an activity the entire family can do together. The Axel Project was an obvious way for us to forever memorialize Axel and everything we came to love about riding together as a family.”

Axel on his bike!

Ryan McFarland, founder of Strider Bikes, had only two words when he was asked if his company would be the founding sponsor of the Axel Project. “We’re In,” was his immediate, and indelible response.

Donations to the Axel Project can be made at www.axelproject.com. All donations will be used to fulfill the organization’s mission. In addition, for every Strider bike sold on the Axel Project website, one will be donated to a child in need.

Precious Axel Charrette

I hope you will join me in supporting this amazing project and this inspiring family!

About The Axel Project
The Axel Project is Ridgway, Colorado-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the fundamental principle that a productive, happy life begins with bikes. Our mission is to introduce and nurture a lifelong passion for cycling to children and their families. While our goal is broad, our first project is aimed at providing balance bicycles and instruction to children in need, ages 18 months to 5-years of age, to teach the basic skills necessary to get them riding on two wheels—with their friends, their family and forever. For more information or to contact the Axel Project, visit www.axelproject.com.

About Strider Sports International, Inc.
Strider Sports International, Inc. designs efficient, no-pedal balance bikes that encourage toddlers to ride, learn, and explore the world on two wheels. Founded by Ryan McFarland in January 2007, Strider Sports is a company full of passionate riders of dirt, mountain, street, and road bikes. The goal of Strider Sports is to simplify a bike to its essence, so that proper size, lightweight and simplicity combine to eliminate any fear of riding and instill confidence in young new riders. The patented STRIDER™ No-Pedal Bike is now distributed in over 35 countries. To learn more and to find a retailer in your area, visit http://www.StriderBikes.com.

About Strider™ No-Pedal Bikes
If your toddler can walk, your toddler can rider a STRIDER™. STRIDER No-Pedal Balance Bikes were developed specifically to help toddlers and young children learn balance and coordination BEFORE pedaling. The simple, nopedal design allows toddlers to learn to ride on two wheels, avoiding tricycle tip-overs and training wheel wobbles, and instilling considerable confidence and stellar bike handling skills sure to last a lifetime. Strider No-Pedal Balance Bikes encourage the development of spatial awareness, balance and basic motor skills so that all children can reach their maximum riding potential faster, better and safer. Available at http://www.StriderBikes.com.