Collecting Bikes to Become an Eagle Scout

A version of the following story was originally published by the Capital Gazette of Annapolis, MD. You can read the original story here.

Young Unificationist John Abendroth of Bowie, Maryland made the news in his town for his determination to become an Eagle Scout despite facing a significant challenge.

“Our second-generation Unificationist brother John Abendroth was injured in a car-bike accident and is now wheelchair-bound as he works to fulfill his Eagle Scout award,” explained New Hope Family Church assistant pastor and John’s troop scoutmaster, Jim Boothby.

John, representing Maryland at the Blessed Culture and Sports Festival (BCSF), before the accident.

At first, John believed that his dream of achieving the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout would have to be abandoned. After the 19-year-old was hit by a car while riding his bicycle near his home two years ago, John was committed to a wheelchair. Since most Eagle Scout candidates complete a physically intensive service project to graduate and receive the award, John was at a loss as to how to proceed.

Then, by a friend’s suggestion, John decided to collect old bicycles and parts to donate to charity through the organization Bikes for the World. John loved their idea of making “quality used bicycles and parts affordable and available to lower income people and select institutions in developing countries.”

In an interview with the Capital Gazette, John commented, “Even in the tiniest ways, they can affect people’s lives. The bikes they donate can go to third-world countries and remote villages. People there can use them to get to work, or to get medicine to people.”

Mary Johnson, a Unificationist who belongs to the same church as the Abendroth family in Bowie, was elated to see the photo of John and the article published by the Gazette about his bicycle project.

“Such an amazing article,” she writes, “and an amazing way to introduce the New Hope Family church to all our neighbors in Bowie. I am going to see if my neighbors here on Hoven Lane have bicycles that they can donate.”

John’s goal is to collect 100 bikes to complete his service project and become an Eagle Scout; and on Saturday, August 20, John and several of his friends will hold a bike donation-drive at the New Hope Family Church, 4801 Tesla Dr., Suite M, Bowie, MD, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to collect as many old bikes and bike parts that they can.

If you have a bike or old parts to donate, please stop by the New Hope Family Church this Saturday to drop off your donations!

To learn more about the bike drive, you can also call 240-353-1917 or e-mail abendroth.John@Gmail.com.