Zach Boyer returned home from a 4,300-mile charity ride from Baltimore to Portland without the bike he used to make the trip, but it looks like he’ll be reunited with the stolen cycle in about a week.
Boyer’s bike and that of another rider on the trip, to raise money for young adults affected by cancer, were stolen in Parkland last week as the two made their way back to the East Coast.
A man who said he bought Boyer’s bike for $50 from an acquaintance called The News Tribune on Monday when he realized it was one of those featured in a story Aug. 10 about Boyer, 18, and fellow rider Chey Hillsgrove, 24.
The News Tribune put Boyer and the man in touch, and they verified through the serial number that it was the same bike.
They made arrangements for it to be shipped to Massachusetts, where Boyer lives. When a manager at R.E.I. in Seattle heard about Boyer’s story, the store decided to cover the $120 shipping cost, Boyer said.
The bike was taken to the store Tuesday and should arrive in about a week, Boyer said.
Hillsgrove’s remains missing.
Boyer said the bicycles are worth about $1,000 each, and that he put about $300 of improvements into his.
Both men were given the bikes by the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults to use for the 4K for Cancer event. They were two of 27 riders who left Baltimore in May and arrived in Portland on Aug. 4 for the annual fundraiser.
Riders seek donations to participate. The contributions totaled more than $500,000 this year and go to the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults, Boyer said. The organization supports youths affected by cancer, offering help through college scholarships and other means.
The two bikes were stolen from the tops of one of one of the organization’s supply vans early Aug. 7, while a group of riders returning the vans was staying with an acquaintance on the way to Seattle. They were secured to a bike rack, which also was stolen.
Boyer said he’d planned to tell authorities the bike had been found, but that the man who bought it asked not to be identified to police.
“They were nice enough to return one of the bikes, so we figured we’d respect their wishes,” Boyer said. “But we plan to tell them that we did get the bike back.”
Boyer said he planned to reimburse the man for the $50 he paid for the bike.
Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers at 253-591-5959. Crime Stoppers offers up to $1,000 for information leading to arrests and charges filed. Tipsters can remain anonymous.
alexis.krell@thenewstribune.com
253-597-8268
blog.thenewstribune.com/crime
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