Ride on little Axel! #Axelove

Riding a bike, how much is there to riding a bike? One might think that riding a bike is just that, but it is not, it is so much more. It's something that I stopped doing for a few years but recently started riding again and it reminded me of the freedom, terror, joy, anger, energizing feelings I once had of riding a bike.

I've met a lot of people through social media and one amazing outdoor blogger I have met is Jennifer Charrette of Velo Mom. A little over a year ago, her family went through a horrible tragedy and lost their youngest son Axel while on a trip in Mexico. There are no words, but no family should go through anything like that. Even though Axel was only on this Earth for a little over two years, he lived life to the fullest on his balance bike.

Over the last year, I have seen how the outdoors, and in particular riding, has helped the Charrette family grieve the loss of a family member and through all the pain this wonderful family has started a great non-profit organization, The Axel Project, in memory of their little boy who LOVED his balance bike. The Axel Project mission is "To introduce and nurture a lifelong passion for cycling to children and their families." One of their main ways of completing their mission is to providing balance bikes and instruction to children in need.

The most recent effort of The Axel Project is Zoom! a picture book about "A little boy rides his balance bike to discover the desert, mountains, mud puddles and more." This story follows the adventures of a little boy, his balance bike, and his dog, which was written by Axel's mother, Jennifer Charrette, and Marcia Kenne and illustrated by Kellie Day. The Zoom! project is being funded through Kickstarter and I have also kicked in to support Zoom!

Let's keep spreading Axel's joy of riding to all families! Will you please join me in supporting Zoom!? Click here to Zoom! Kickstarter page.

The #OutdoorFamilies bloggers have come together to support Zoom! and the Charrette Family in their new endeavor.

It’s a Delightful, Dazzling, Dream-Filled, Dirty World by Rocks and Sun
Zoom! The Healing Power of Two Wheels by Expect Adventure
Making Lemonade Out of Life's Lemons by Mommy Loves Trees
Zoom! The Story of a Boy and his Balance Bike by Tales of a Mountain Mama
Today is Zoom! Day: The Story of a Boy and His Balance Bike by On The Beaten Path
An Amazing Kickstarter campaign for Zoom & The Axel Project by Active Kids Active Family
Let's Give a Kick Start to ZOOM! The Story of a Boy and His Balance Bike by Mommy Hiker
Zoom! Remembering Axel’s Love of Biking by Colorado Mountain Mom
Zoom Day - Let's Get The First Balance Bike Book Published! by Family Adventures in the Canadian Rockies
Bloggies, Bikes and Books by Velo Mom

Join in on the conversation by leaving a comment here! You can also join in on the conversations on Chasqui Mom's Facebook, Instagram and Twitter that is updated daily with outdoor activities and other wonderful posts and links from #OutdoorFamilies!