Bike-riding brothers shine spotlight on giving back

It has been a busy summer for Bobby Jenkins, owner and CEO of ABC Home & Commercial Services in Austin, Texas, and his brother Raleigh Jenkins, president of ABC Home & Commercial Services in Houston, Texas. But a surge in pest populations is not what’s occupying their time; instead, they are spending their summer traveling from Alaska to Texas. By bike.

Their 5,500-mile trek from Anchorage, Alaska, to College Station, Texas, began on June 18 and is expected to end on Sept. 6 when they arrive to watch their alma mater, Texas A&M, take on Utah State in a football game at Kyle Field. You can track their journey on their Brothers Bike website.

The brothers are raising money and awareness for two charities close to their hearts: for Bobby, it’s the Moss Pieratt Foundation and for Raleigh, it’s Mission Lazarus. Their younger brother, Dennis, will bring more details about the campaign in Pest Management Professional’s October “ABCs of Growth” column, which all three Jenkinses take turns writing.

Bobby and Raleigh’s goal has been to ride 70 to 75 miles a day. They are not going it alone, however. ABC Home & Commercial Services retirees Mark Ambrose and Brian Kelly are taking turns driving an RV that follows the brothers on their fundraising journey, and brought bikes so they can ride along, too. Instead of staying in hotels, they all sleep in the RV.

Helping worthy causes

Although they are getting closer to home every day, it’s not too late to support their causes.

The Moss Pieratt Foundation raises funds and awareness to find a cause or cure for the sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC), for a child over the age of 12 months whose death remains unexplained. Formed in July 2015, the Moss Pieratt Foundation honors Bobby’s grandson, John “Moss” Pieratt Jr. Tax-deductible donations make it possible to help the SUDC Foundation advocate for research, raise awareness and assist families. Click here to donate.

Mission Lazarus is a nonprofit organization focused on breaking the cycle of poverty in Honduras and Haiti through a holistic, Christ-centered approach. It addresses the physical, spiritual, educational and economic needs of vulnerable communities and offers healthcare, education, vocational training and spiritual support. Mission Lazarus takes a relationship-driven approach to serving others that affords it the opportunity to understand root causes of generational poverty rather than only addressing the visible crises, in a community. Click here to donate.