Austin brothers to bike over 5,000 miles to raise funds for charity
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Mayor Kirk Watson declared May 5 as Jenkins Brothers' Bike Day in honor of Bobby and Raleigh Jenkins upcoming 5,500-mile bike ride from Anchorage, Alaska to College Station, Texas.
Bobby Jenkins is the owner of ABC Home & Commercial Services, a local business that provides pest control, air conditioning repair and other services for homeowners.
The trip will be the second cross-country bike ride the business owner has embarked on with his brother Raleigh. Bobby said he's riding to raise awareness and donations for Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC).
His grandson Moss died from SUDC in 2014, and Moss' parents established the Moss Pieratt foundation to raise awareness for SUDC. Bobby Jenkins also ran the New York City marathon in Moss' honor in 2022.
Raleigh Jenkins is riding to raise aid funding for children in Haiti, a country that has suffered widespread gang-violence and famine in recent years.
The Jenkins brothers joined KXAN Anchor Will Dupree in the studio to discuss the upcoming journey and the funds they hope to raise for two children's charities.
Read a transcription of the interview below, or watch in the video player above. Some responses have been edited for clarity.
Will DuPree: Thank you both so much for being here. We appreciate it.
Bobby Jenkins: Thank you. Appreciate the opportunity.
Dupree: Now that is a very long way, 5,500 miles, so talk to us about what inspired that.
Bobby Jenkins: Yeah, you know, for both of us and for me, it is about you mentioned my grandson, Moss. Moss passed away 11 years ago from what's called sudden unexplained death in childhood, which means we don't know why he died. It's unexplained, and this is the number four cause of death for toddlers, so it's important, but we want to find answers. And the reason we want to find answers is not just about what happened to Moss, but can we prevent it from happening to other children? And then Raleigh's riding for Mission Lazarus.
Raleigh Jenkins: Children in Haiti and their survival that they're going through right now, and the struggles they're doing.
DuPree: So this will be essentially a dual fundraiser with a very personal connection for you all.
Bobby Jenkins: Absolutely, we've done this before. It was eight years ago. We rode from Seattle to New York City. That was 3,500 miles. This is, as you said, 5,500 miles, and we're eight years older, but the cause is so important to us, and I really particularly on the funding of the research at NYU Langone. We've got to find answers. We've got to raise awareness. We've got to find answers. So we're both very passionate for both of these causes, and we really need people's help to make it a successful journey.
DuPree: Absolutely. So are you all setting a certain goal in terms of fundraising?
Bobby Jenkins: We are. We're working on the goal. Quite frankly, we'd like to be around a million dollars between the two of us. It's a big goal, but it's both big needs and the work that needs to be done. It's going to take that. And so I really think this will be our last big bike ride. I'll be almost 67 when we finish, and I don't think I'm going to want to go across the country again, but it is important, and I am passionate about it, and the need is big.
DuPree: I know people at home are going to be hearing about this and thinking, you know, what can we do to help you all? Or how can they help the certain causes you all are supporting? So fill in the blank for them. What should they do?
Bobby Jenkins: So, brothersbike.org. You can go there, and you can see my picture and Raleigh's picture, and you can donate to both or one. But that's a big part of it, and it's awareness. Having the opportunity to talk about this, awareness about what sudden unexplained death in childhood is, awareness about Mission Lazarus and the challenges in Haiti. Both of those people can learn more about it at brothersbike.org, but we'd sure appreciate their prayers, and we'd sure appreciate their support as far as the bike ride.
DuPree: Other people at home might be also wondering how you're preparing for this, because I know that's coming up in like, a month or so, right?
Raleigh Jenkins: We're almost six weeks away right now, so yeah, it's here. I will admit I had ChatGPT build my workout program. So I have a program that's a daily activity of what I'm doing, how I'm working out, and what my rides look like.
DuPree: It keeps you on that.
Raleigh Jenkins: It does. It is, it's wonderful.
Bobby Jenkins: Raleigh cheated and really got the perfect workout. I'm a little dated, and I'm trying to just go ride my bicycle more and spend some more time in the in the saddle, and getting the legs ready, and all of that. But, you know, we'll be ready for it. And part of it is, you ride into shape. We'll average about 70 to 75 miles per day, and it'll take two and a half months to get from Anchorage and we are going to finish right there at Kyle Field at Texas A&M.
DuPree: Yeah right back here close to home.
Bobby Jenkins: That's right.
DuPree: Well, Bobby and Raleigh thank you both so much for joining us and I wish you the best of luck not only in the fundraiser, but also with that ride.
Bobby Jenkins: Thank you, appreciate it.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
How many drowning deaths happen per year in Travis County? What prevention resources are there?
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin area has several bodies of water that people use for recreational activities like kayaking and swimming, which see an uptick in the warmer months. But with an increase in outdoor activity comes an increase in tragedies caused by accidents. Earlier this week, a teenage boy's body was recovered from Lady Bird Lake after investigators said he was 'unknowingly standing near an underwater shelf' when he slipped and did not resurface. Last week, another young boy died following an eighth grade graduation celebration at Dick Nichols Park. 'It's deadly': The risks of drowning and knowing how to save a life Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4, and it's the second leading cause of accidental injury for children ages 5-14, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. KXAN looked at the number of accidental deaths caused by drowning, as reported by the Travis County Medical Examiner's annual reports over the last 10 years. By the numbers, Travis County saw the lowest number of drownings last year, compared to the other years within the last decade. According to the reports, the following number of accidental death drownings happened during the following years: 2024: 17 2023: 22 2022: 28 2021: 34 2020: 19 2019: 27 2018: 21 2017: 24 2016: 23 2015: 20 2014: 19 The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services also tracks child drowning deaths throughout the state. According to that agency, 22 children drowned in Texas so far this year. There are several water safety training programs in the Austin area. The city of Austin has an injury prevention page and a water safety page on its website. The city provides training and certifications for city-hired lifeguards. MAP: Tracking deaths in Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin Aquatic Management of Austin also offers lifeguard training through two different courses -Lifeguarding, Full Certification (for new lifeguards), and Lifeguarding Recertification, for those who need to renew their current certification. Greater Austin YMCA, in collaboration with Colin's Hope, works to provide children with safety, aquatics, and fitness education. It's called Project SAFE, which stands for Safety, Aquatics and Fitness Education. The American Red Cross has several water safety certification programs and safety tips online. Goldfish Swim School has several indoor children's swim lessons and programs for children ages 4 months and up, and it offers safe swimming presentations to children in participating daycare centers, schools, and other educational facilities at no cost. UT Recreational Sports also has lifeguard certification classes for enrolled UT students. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Texas paramedics to get tuition exemptions already provided to firefighters, police thanks to passed bill
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Paramedics could soon be exempt from tuition and laboratory fees while taking certain courses at public colleges and universities, thanks to a bill that recently passed in the Texas Legislature. House Bill 1105, authored by Rep. Sheryl Cole, D-Austin, applies to paramedics employed by a political subdivision of Texas. Many of Texas' paramedics are also firefighters, who already have access to fee exemptions under Texas law. Law enforcement officers also have access to exemptions. However, an author-sponsor statement of intent for HB 1105 states that as many as 6,000 paramedics in Texas are not employed by a fire department. 'In Texas, most paramedics working for a political subdivision are also employed as firefighters,' the statement reads. 'Since firefighters are eligible … most paramedics have likewise benefited from these courses and the tuition exemption.' When implemented, the law will direct the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to restrict how many remote students get exemptions to 20% of enrolled students. Austin EMS Association (AEMSA) President James Monks provided the only testimony in support of the bill during an April 15 hearing, according to legislative records. AEMSA organizes Austin-Travis County EMS workers. 'I think it was an oversight. EMS is not quite at the top of everybody's radar,' said Monks to KXAN on Thursday. 'We got left out of the loop when [fee exemption] legislation initially passed, and I just tried to convince them that the initial intent of this legislation was to include paramedics … third service just kind of got left out.' Representatives from the city of Austin, city of Houston, Texas AFL-CIO, Texas State Association of Fire and Emergency Districts, Texas Fire Chiefs Association, Conference of Urban Counties, and County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas registered in support of the bill but did not testify. No one testified against or registered opposition with the Senate's Higher Education committee. Texas AFL-CIO: Texas Legislature passes bill protecting utility workers from assaults, harassment during disasters Some AEMSA members have already indicated they will seek more training because of the bill, Monks said. He also said that the law would help ATCEMS retain staff. 'I definitely see it as step in the right direction,' Monks said. 'It's offering a further incentive for people who have their paramedic license or certification, so that they can go ahead and pursue higher education.' Bill sponsor Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, provided a statement to KXAN, in which she said she was proud to help pass the bill. 'Nearly 9% of Texas paramedics are employed by a standalone EMS department but are excluded from participating in the tuition exemption program offered to their counterparts who work jointly with police and fire,' Eckhardt said. 'This bill is about ensuring parity and opening vital pathways for more Texans to get to work helping their communities, especially those struggling with the greatest need for personnel.' Monks also told KXAN that he was grateful for Cole and Eckhardt, and said that their staff were 'fantastic.' Unless vetoed, HB 1105 takes effect in September. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
‘It's deadly': The risks of drowning and knowing how to save a life
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Local first responders would like people to know what to do in case of a drowning. Austin Public Health said an average of 14 people a year die by drowning in Travis County. Between 2007 and 2016, a total of 140 deaths happened due to unintentional drowning. Half of them were in natural bodies of water — like creeks, lakes or rivers — while 25% of them were in swimming pools. It's why first responders are highlighting the life-saving power of CPR and of an automated external defibrillator, or AED. Captain Trevor Stokes with Travis County Emergency Services District No. 2, otherwise known as the Pflugerville Fire Department, joined KXAN's Will DuPree and Avery Travis to mark CPR and AED Awareness Travis: We know this week is really meant to highlight how people can save lives and be safe out on the water. But let's talk about the issue of drowning. How big of a problem is it in Central Texas? I think a lot of folks growing up in this area learned to swim growing up, or were around swimming pools or the lake. Why might that knowledge maybe make us a little lax about the risks of drowning. Captain Trevor Stokes: So the biggest issue we see is obviously for children, so we recommend putting all the efforts into prevention. Obviously, knowing CPR is a good thing, but at that point, something's already happened. So drowning is silent. It's deadly, and it happens very quickly. So when enjoying water, especially in pools or even an open body of water, like we saw with the incident there at Lake Austin or Town Lake, is having a PFD, wearing a PFD, not just having it near you, but actually wearing it despite your ability to swim. That's a preventative measure. People typically don't drown when they're wearing a PFD. They surface to the top of the water. But more importantly, with kiddos, always having somebody who is watching the children, and then rotating that person regularly. So that's not someone who's reading a book, who's on their phone, they're not distracted, they're watching. Also, if you're in a pool, or if you're in a body of water where visibility is good, having a swimsuit that is not the same color as, say, the bottom of the pool. So that at any moment a kid slips below the surface, you immediately can recognize that. But rotating that person and making sure they understand what their responsibilities are prevents it. Also having likes or any prevention mechanisms so people can't wander off to the water, wander off to the pool, unaided or unassisted or even unwatched, that's a big thing. Will DuPree: Okay, so those are lots of things that people can keep in mind for sure. But if an emergency should happen, obviously calling 911, is important, but so is the importance of someone being a bystander who can jump in and perform CPR. What's the impact that can have on potentially saving someone's life? Stokes: So having knowledge of doing CPR and immediately starting that process while someone is calling 911 — it raises the potential for a save so much higher. CPR is an easy skill to learn. Anyone can do it. You can go to Actually, the Pflugerville Firefighters Association has a free class that goes on monthly. All the information is on our website. There's also a playlist that will help you remember the tempo. But early compressions, early CPR is the best chance to make that a survivable event. Travis: I think we even have that playlist pulled up so we can give it a scroll and let people see some of the songs you guys are actually trying to make this, you know, even entertaining and catchy, something easy for people to remember and learn and kind of put those skills into practice. I saw a Sabrina Carpenter song on there, and so I'll be practicing my CPR to that later today. So we're showing that resource for people and where you can find it. But I do want to ask for someone who the thought of jumping in as a bystander might be really scary, even if they've practiced, even if they've learned the skills. What would you say to folks, who you know that's a scary moment, to jump in and try to do something like that, if you've only ever practiced, maybe on a practice dummy or in a class? Stokes: Well, it's interesting. We're doing Stillwater training right now at Lake Pflugerville. Last year, while we were out there doing that, someone actually started drowning while we were there. So as first responders, we're trained to do that. But even that group had a little hesitation, because they're like, surely, this is not happening right in front of us. So even for trained professionals, it can be stressful. The reality, though, is paying attention, making sure that someone is always watching, especially with kiddos, we can prevent that from ever happening. DuPree: We mentioned a little bit earlier about the device known as an AED, talk to us about what that is and how helpful it can be in an emergency. Stokes: So an AED is an automated external defibrillator, so it's a piece of equipment that has become very popular in public places all across the world. You'll see them in malls. You'll see them in airports. The way they're designed now is you don't need any training in them. As a matter of fact, some of the manufacturers prefer you don't have some training on, say, another brand, and then have to use that from the time you turn it on, it will walk you through every single step. Those that are located near a pool or a body of water — there's very specific directions drawing the person off before you do it. But other than that, it allows the best chance to restart the heart, should it be an electrical issue. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
