Fundraiser held to open bike shop that employs adults with disabilities

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — We first told you about Leah Sherrill back in December. This recent UNCW graduate is hoping to make a big difference in our community by creating a bike shop called Special Pedals.

Sherrill started this non-profit organization to provides fulfilling employment for adults with disabilities.

Special Pedals is geared toward providing college students convenient, low-cost, bicycles or bike repairs while training and employing adults with disabilities.

A fundraiser is being held Monday evening to help this idea to become a reality.

“Our goal is $2,500 and we are going to purchase a box truck,” Sherrill said. “We already got the truck picked out and everything. With that, we can become a mobile bike shop in the next couple of months leading up to when we move into our space on campus.”

The fundraiser is happening until 8 p.m. at UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. There will be live music, a corn hole tournament, raffles, and bike mechanics on site for tune-ups and tire repairs.

Sherrill says they already have three employees and the non-profit plans to move into a permanent location on UNCW’s campus in Spring 2017.