O's Cool Bike Ride and Walk

An annual event held to honor Owen Lewis

University Relations photo

Owen Lewis loved his bike.

Owen Lewis was an energetic kid who never met a stranger. Owen loved dinosaurs and riding his “cool” balance bike alongside his dad. The O’s Cool Bike Foundation now honors his legacy every year with its O’s Cool Bike Ride and Walk event.

Dr. Heather Lewis and Dr. Onick Lewis started the O’s Cool Bike Foundation after their son, Owen, suddenly passed away on April 28, 2022. He was only two years old when he passed of lymphocytic myocarditis, an inflammatory disease of the muscular tissue of the heart.

“I remember one of the last memories that I had with him when we were riding our bikes,” said Dr. Onick Lewis, who is an assistant professor and Bachelors of Social Work program director. “It was a cold February day. “We were out there for about 30, 40 minutes and we had already done about a mile, just walking around. He just didn't want to go back … He had energy, and he loved people, and he just loved being outside. He was an awesome kid. He was an absolutely awesome kid.”

The third annual O’s Cool Bike Ride and Walk event will be held on April 26. There will be lots of family-friendly activities on the quad such as inflatables, face painting, and a dino egg hunt. There will also be five different bike routes of different lengths for every age to enjoy.

The funds raised from the event will go towards the foundation’s mission of providing balance bikes to low-income Head Start programs in Pike County and the surrounding communities. Funds will also go towards the Owen Wayne Lewis Memorial Scholarship at Troy.

“To date, we have donated 180 bikes to head local Head Start programs in this area,” Onick said. On Wednesday, the 23rd, they're going to donate 65 balance bikes.

“Being able to just give back to the communities and give back to the people who cannot, we're blessed,” Onick said. “When I tell you we're blessed, we're absolutely blessed.

“The community blessed us with love, support in all those other things that are amazing. As a result, we want to give back to students of Troy University through our scholarship.”

Foundation has given away five Owen Wayne Lewis Memorial Scholarships so far. They are hoping to make it an endowed scholarship within the next year and to continue to give scholarships to Troy students in need.

The Lewis’ wanted to thank Troy University for its continued support of their foundation and for the support they needed after the loss of Owen.

“We appreciate Troy University more than anyone will ever know,” Onick said. “Troy University and the Troy community rallied around us when we were at our toughest times ever.

“As a result, the community rallied around us, therefore we decided to rally around the community.”

The deadline to register for O’s Cool Bike Ride and Walk event is Thursday, April 24 at 5 p.m. The activities and starting line will be on the quad on April 26. Breakfast from Jack’s and lunch from Moe’s Barbecue will be provided for attendees.

For more information or to get registered, visit www.bikereg.com/oscoolbikeridewalk.