Back in March 2017, Rich Perkins heard about a woman in Cody who was medically unable to drive a car safely. So instead, she rode a bicycle as her means of transportation. When the woman’s bike was stolen, Perkins offered her one of his and the LauraLynn project was born. It is named after that first bicycle recipient. 

Perkins’ granddaughter, Talisha Cross, urged him to continue giving away bicycles. She was 6 years old at the time and wanted to make sure all kids all over the world had a bike.

Since then, she has almost gotten her wish: The project has gifted more than 20,000 bicycles, according to Perkins.

The bikes are donated by individuals, police departments and some are fished out of loads destined for the landfill. They have been sent as far away as Australia and the Philippines through the Make-A-Wish Foundation (which grants wishes to seriously ill children) and even to Africa through a Christian ministry there.

On a cold windy Saturday in the Blair’s Super Market parking lot, Perkins and his granddaughter were doing a brisk business in two-wheelers. Perkins wanted to mark the fourth anniversary of the organization in Powell, he said, “because Powell has been totally awesome to us.”

He turned and helped Michelle Hedges and Erica Myers, both 12 and in the sixth grade, select bikes. Erica had received one from Perkins previously, but she has outgrown it since then and passed it down to a smaller rider.

It isn’t hard to see why the selection process could be tricky. There are a lot of choices. There are Barbie bikes and Tonka bikes, princess bikes and puppy bikes. Some are the styles traditionally thought of as girls’ bikes, while others are boys’.

Michelle and Erica giggle and whisper back and forth, trying this bike then that. Occasionally they will carefully take one for a test spin around the parking lot on the west end of the building. Meanwhile, Talisha is pointing out other bikes that might suit the girls, as if there aren’t enough choices already. She is scooting around on a wheeled seat made to support a foot cast. 

Finally, finally, Michelle makes a decision, but Erica discards her choice and tries yet another bike. She notices the seat has a skull motif and a smile creeps across her face. It is a traditional boys’ style, but she is quick to point out that, “I’m not the kind of girl who cares if it is boy’s bike or not.”

“And I like skulls,” she adds.

Meanwhile, Perkins is helping Michelle Wiley of Powell select two smaller bikes — one for her 4-year-old nephew and another for her 5-year-old niece. He helps her with the sizing and finding one with training wheels for the younger child. Then he loads them into Wiley’s pickup and reminds Erica and Michelle that, if they have selected a bicycle, they get to use a permanent marker to write their first names on his pickup. 

The truck bears the motto of Perkin’s work through  the LauraLynn Project: “We do it for the kids.”