Oakland University
Wednesday, September 17, 2014

AutoBike Delivers Innovation For Wounded Warrior Project

Sometimes a simple phone call can make a huge difference. When AutoBike was contacted by Hal Honeyman from “The Bike Rack” in Lake Charles, IL the conversation would put AutoBike on a path to a deeper calling. Honeyman was looking for an automatic-shifting system retrokit for existing bikes. Their mission was to build a bike for a double arm amputee through Project Mobility. Project Mobility provides technical and mechanical support for Soldier Ride, one of 19 programs that Wounded Warrior Project provides for post 911, Iraq and Afghanistan wounded services members.

AutoBike immediately got to work on helping. After donating one of their retrokits, AutoBike began building a prototype system and shipped it out for installation. Under a big time constraint, having only two weeks before the unveiling in Texas, AutoBike had to move quickly. After a few technical conversations, the bike was completed and shipped to Eric, the wounded warrior from Texas.

The effort and time put into the project turned out to be a success. AutoBike is not stopping there however. Discussions have already begun about the next project, a trike for a triple amputee wounded warrior. The efforts being made by AutoBike are meant to inspire others to join in to change someone’s life.

“We placed pictures of Eric riding the modified bike on our Facebook page with the hopes of inspiring our friends and followers to get involved in this very worthy program” said Mark Simpson “It’s not often that we get an opportunity to change someone’s life for the better, so, when we do, we’d better jump on it.”

Making a positive difference in someone’s life is something that we should all strive to do. AutoBike recognizes the sacrifice that our military men and women give to protect our country and they are more than happy to give back.

“Although AutoBike is a small, start-up company, we believe that giving back to the brave men and women that make it possible for us to live in a country of opportunity and freedom is something that we should all embrace” Simpson said. “It’s just a small way for us to say ‘thank you.’”

Sometimes a simple phone call can make a huge difference. When AutoBike was contacted by Hal Honeyman from “The Bike Rack” in Lake Charles, IL the conversation would put AutoBike on a path to a deeper calling. Honeyman was looking for an automatic-shifting system retrokit for existing bikes. Their mission was to build a bike for a double arm amputee through Project Mobility. Project Mobility provides technical and mechanical support for Soldier Ride, one of 19 programs that Wounded Warrior Project provides for post 911, Iraq and Afghanistan wounded services members.

AutoBike immediately got to work on helping. After donating one of their retrokits, AutoBike began building a prototype system and shipped it out for installation. Under a big time constraint, having only two weeks before the unveiling in Texas, AutoBike had to move quickly. After a few technical conversations, the bike was completed and shipped to Eric, the wounded warrior from Texas.

The effort and time put into the project turned out to be a success. AutoBike is not stopping there however. Discussions have already begun about the next project, a trike for a triple amputee wounded warrior. The efforts being made by AutoBike are meant to inspire others to join in to change someone’s life.

“We placed pictures of Eric riding the modified bike on our Facebook page with the hopes of inspiring our friends and followers to get involved in this very worthy program” said Mark Simpson “It’s not often that we get an opportunity to change someone’s life for the better, so, when we do, we’d better jump on it.”

Making a positive difference in someone’s life is something that we should all strive to do. AutoBike recognizes the sacrifice that our military men and women give to protect our country and they are more than happy to give back.

“Although AutoBike is a small, start-up company, we believe that giving back to the brave men and women that make it possible for us to live in a country of opportunity and freedom is something that we should all embrace” Simpson said. “It’s just a small way for us to say ‘thank you.’”



Created by Joesph Ciaravino (jaciarav@oakland.edu) on Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Modified by Joesph Ciaravino (jaciarav@oakland.edu) on Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Article Start Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2014