Discovering a favorite bicycle is missing is a tragically common occurrence in the USA, with an estimated 2 million bicycle thefts per year according to a statistic from 529 Garage*. Ace employees and community members in Yankton, South Dakota banded together in a fundraising effort to get a fellow rider back on the road.

Ken Kopetsky and his employees at Kopetsky’s Ace Hardware and Bicycle Repair Shop saw Zach riding around town on his bike frequently. Affectionately known as "the bicycle guy," Zach relied on his bicycle for daily transportation.

"Everyone recognizes him as the guy that’s always riding around town, singing on his bike," Ace bicycle mechanic Nick said.

One day, Zach’s bike was stolen from outside his apartment. For Zach, it was a devastating loss that would not be easy to recover from.

Nick decided to start a GoFundMe page to raise money to purchase Zach a new bike. After posting a link on the Kopetsky’s Ace Hardware Facebook page, donations came in very quickly, and within hours the goal of $700 had already been met.

"It was under a day," Ace Manager Ken Kopetsky said. "It was very impressive how quickly people reached out to help Zachary."

After surpassing the fundraising goal, Nick was able to put together a new bike for Zach along with some bags and accessories. A few days later, Nick surprised Zach with the bike.

"We always encourage our team members to think independently, think outside the box," said Ken. "It was really cool that (Nick) saw a problem and he knew how to solve it."

*Source: https://cyclingindustry.news/bicycle-theft-surpasses-2-million-a-year-in-the-usa/