Richard Perkins and his granddaughter Talisha Cross, 8, replace a bike tire together while grandmother Sherrie Perkins watches from the kitchen in their home on Sunday, November 24th. Talisha and her grandpa are very close. She helps him repair bikes and attends almost every bike giveaway.
The Lauralynn Project started in 2017 when Richard gave his mountain bike to friend Lauralynn McEndree after her bicycle was stolen and she was unable to get to work. Talisha who was 5 years old at the time suggested to her grandpa “we should do this for every kid in the world” which became the inspiration for The Lauralynn Project, which today has given away thousands of bikes. A few have even been sent as far as Australia and Africa.
Richard Perkins shovels snow around bikes during a giveaway on Yellowstone Avenue on Saturday, November 29th. Richard hoped having a giveaway on Black Friday would make it possible for any kid who asked for a bike for Christmas to get one.
Matthew Erkkila, 6, rides his new bike from the Lauralynn Project around Blair’s Market during their third anniversary giveaway on Saturday, March 14th.
After a day of picking up used bikes from homes and surrounding landfills Richard Perkins unloads his truck into his storage unit in Powell on Friday, November 22nd. Richard will collect and repair hundreds of bikes at a time between his home and his storage unit Richard has around 300 bikes at the moment.
Talisha Cross, 8, plays with an inner tube while her grandpa installs a bike seat at his home on Sunday, November 24th.
Richard Perkins rides a mini bike with his granddaughter Talisha Cross, 8, around the Blair’s Market parking lot while his wife Sherrie Perkins laughs in the background during a giveaway on Saturday, March 14th.
Richard Perkins searches his side yard for spare parts while repairing bikes at his home on Sunday, November 24th. Richard spends most of his spare time when he is not working as a custodian for Albertson’s grocery store working on bikes and organizing giveaways for the project. “It feels like this is my purpose. Everyone has a reason why they are here and I enjoy it” said Richard.