Triangle Spokes Group

Pedaling Joy to the Triangle- Keeping Simple Play Alive!
Imagining children in the Triangle with no bicycles to ride, no way to learn the importance of simple play in their lives, and no outlet to have fun while exercising- These are the worries that crossed the minds of Jenn Nowalk and Ashley Wilson, local real estate brokers in Raleigh, NC.
A former teacher, Ashley knew the importance of play, simple play in children’s lives, and she also vividly remembered memories on her first bike, a pink huffy. Because of Jenn and Ashley’s care for children in their community, the Triangle Spokes Group was born!
Modeled after a Charlotte group that her brother in law had started, Ashley co founded the group with Jenn Nowalk in 2007. She watched the group in Charlotte grow over the years from raising 7 bikes to now raising over 2500 bikes. “It is amazing how a bike can change the life of a family! We often take for granted the simple things in life that we are so fortunate to have” says Ashley. After resigning from her teaching position, she wanted a way to stay connected to the children in the community and continue the Spokes tradition in her own community. Ashley knew that Jenn would be the perfect partner in the endeavor.
In its inaugural year, Triangle Spokes Group raised 300 bikes for children in the Triangle and has raised 500 additional bikes since 2007. This year, Triangle Spokes Group plans on raising money to give away 500 bikes and is launching a new website for even bigger growth.
Jenn and Ashley have affected lives across the community. A local 6 year old girl learned about the group and instead of getting gifts for her birthday, she decided to have a bike party and received donations for Triangle Spokes Group. In addition, a grandmother donated a bike in honor of all 13 of her grandkids in memory of their great grandmother who had passed away. It was a great lesson for the grandchildren on giving back to the community to her 13 grandchildren, while impacting the lives of 13 children who were less fortunate in the community! Many other similar stories have occurred across the Triangle. Visit our website for more of these stories www.trianglespokesgroup.com
Corporations in the community are now reaching out to be corporate sponsors of the organization because they see the impact that it has on the lives of the children. The bike donations are the largest bike donations that the Salvation Army has ever received, and our goal is to continue to grow so that we can donate bikes to multiple organizations across the Triangle.
Teach our children fair play, respect, and communication all with a bike! What a gift- should any child live without one?
Triangle Spokes Group is Pedaling Joy to the Triangle and Keeping Simple Play Alive in the Lives of Children!