After spending more than two weeks riding his bike across America, Tyler Harlow’s journey to raise money for a non-profit turned into an unexpected adventure in Lake Ozark.
Thanks to a bike crash, Harlow had to spend two nights in the lake area only to experience kindness from small town strangers. During the course of his stay, Harlow received free lodging, food and bike repairs, and a donation for the charity he is bicycling for, Sibling Connections, which reconnects separated siblings in foster care.
The incident began on May 4 close to 4 p.m. when Harlow was riding through Lake Ozark with the goal of eventually reaching San Francisco, starting from Boston.
When his front bike tire got stuck, he was ejected from his bike and thrust into a cement barricade.
Luckily, he was only about three-quarters of a mile away from the Lake Ozark Fire Protection District.
Harlow said his first instinct was to get up and keep moving, but a woman driving by witnessed the injured Harlow and called for help.
What he thought was about to become his misfortune turned out to be his good karma.
Within minutes, an ambulance, the Lake Ozark Fire Protection District and the Lake Ozark Police arrived to help.
As Harlow was whisked away for treatment, the fire district decided to drop his bike off for repairs at Oz Cycles, which happens to be located right by the fire station.
Members of the Lake Ozark Fire Protection District, the Lake Ozark Fire Benevolence Association and the Lake Area Firefighters Local 3987 pulled together about $150 to pay for his bike repairs.
Captain Tim Herbig of the Lake Ozark Fire Protection District said they just felt compelled to take care of him after hearing his story.
Rather than take the money, Dan and Nicole Dougan, owners of Oz Cycles, decided to fix the bike for free.
“The bike had $150 worth of damage to it and the owners were so amazing, they told me to pay it forward,” Harlow said.
Harlow and the firefighters decided to donate the money intended for his bike to Sibling Connections.
In addition to this, the fire district also offered to pay for a motel room next to their station at the Rockwood Resort Motel.
Jeff VanDonsel, owner of Rockwood Resort Motel, donated the room instead for the first night, and for the second night, the Lake Ozark Fire Benevolence Association paid.
“It reflects on the kind-heartedness of people in the area, that they help out people,” VanDonsel said. “(Harlow) offered to pay but I said there’s no need, just pass it on.”
Harlow said his original plan was to camp out in a park but the fire district insisted on putting him in a motel.
The fire district also invited him over for lunch and dinner at their station.
When Harlow was asked why he decided to get up and ride across America, Harlow himself wasn’t sure why, but he knew it’s just the type of thing that needed to be done.
“I’m still trying to figure out why I’m doing this,” Harlow said. “As cliché as it sounds, we’re at a point in time when people need to be inspired.”
And inspiring people is what he sought to do when he learned the non-profit he’s volunteered for in the past didn’t receive the $20,000 from state funds they anticipated.
“Everyone is hurting for money because of the economy, and the money (Sibling Connections) expected didn’t come through this year, so I thought that I’d supplement their income,” Harlow said.
Still a little sore and touting his arm band, Harlow left yesterday to continue riding his bike across America.
After all is said and done, three simple words continue to be repeated like a mantra to explain the motivating factor behind everyone’s generosity.
“I’m reluctant to quote a movie,” Herbig said. “But the best way to sum it up is ‘pay it forward.’”
To get involved:
Go to www.siblingconnections.com
