“Getting Back on the Bike” … a Teachable Metaphor for Resilience
Key Takeaways About Resilience | Table of Contents
Estimated reading time: 8 – 9 minutes
What Resilience Really Means
Life has a way of testing us.
Sometimes the challenges are small … like finishing homework or finding motivation for a workout.
Other times they knock us flat, leaving us wondering if we’ll ever get back up.
Resilience is what helps us keep moving forward. It’s not about avoiding difficulties, but learning how to recover, adapt and grow from them.
The great educator, John Dewey, once said:
“We do not learn from experience… we learn from reflecting on experience.”
At Cherokee Creek Boys School (CCBS), a therapeutic boarding school for boys ages 10 – 15, resilience is one of the most important skills our students develop. Learning to overcome obstacles in healthy ways prepares boys not just for school … but for life.
Why Resilience Matters for Boys
Research shows that resilience is especially powerful during early adolescence.
According to the American Psychological Association, resilience in children helps protect against anxiety and depression, supports academic success and fosters stronger relationships.
For boys, resilience often shows up physically. A 2022 article in Child Development Perspectives highlighted that boys between 10 – 15 may benefit greatly from active, hands-on challenges like sports, outdoor adventures and exercise. These activities give them a safe way to work through stress, frustration and setbacks.
That’s why recreation, movement and sports play an important role at CCBS. When boys push through the physical challenge of a hike, a kayak trip or athletic event, they’re also learning persistence, patience and confidence.
Meet CCBS Team Members, David and Elijah
Both are passionate about biking. Both are deeply invested in our boys’ growth and well-being. Both have had biking accidents that tested their patience, courage and faith in the healing process. And both have been a key part of CCBS’s BOTO’s Big Ride.
David LePere
Elijah Smith
Elijah has a long biking history, including a cross-country trip of over 7,000 miles that he still recalls vividly.
And while their paths are different, their stories overlap in powerful ways: each faced a fall that could have kept them off the bike … and each chose to fight back with resilience.
A Hard Fall and a Long Road Back
David’s Fall
“I wiped out,” he recalls. “I broke two bones … my pelvis and shoulder. Suddenly, everything stopped.”
For seven weeks, David had to sit still.
No riding. No running. Limiting weight bearing. Just waiting for his body to heal.
Elijah’s Accident
“Preparing for the Big Ride, I was hit from behind by a pickup truck and diagnosed with four fractured vertebrae. With prayer, a month later the MRI showed no evidence of fractures. After a few months of physical therapy, I was very fortunate to return to full health. I was filled with gratitude for God’s protection and provision for our family.”
Both men know the frustration of being sidelined. Both faced long stretches of pain, uncertainty and the question: Will I ever ride again?
Healing Through Support, Purpose and Resilience
David’s Story of Resilience
“How did I get through it?” David says. “It was a mix of mental work, physical patience and the incredible support of others.”
Family, friends, coworkers and neighbors surrounded him with encouragement. “My wife asked friends if anyone had a wheelchair … and immediately three showed up at our house. People’s kindness was overwhelming.”
David also drew strength from his sense of purpose. “I knew the school needed me. The boys needed me. That gave me motivation to heal, even when it was tough.”
And gratitude kept him steady: “I reminded myself that things could have been worse. I didn’t have head trauma. I would recover.
And when I began healing and could finally get back on the bike, my cycling friends really stepped up … riding with me, encouraging me and slowing down so I could rebuild my confidence.”
Elijah’s Story of Resilience
Elijah echoes similar lessons.
“After the accident, there was a period of several months when I didn’t ride at all.
My passion for cycling remained, but I thought long and hard about what my cycling might look like for the next few years as my wife and I continue raising our three boys.
But, the patience and determination that I had forged through a lifetime of sports and the injuries that sometimes accompany them, along with my faith is what got me through.
And when I did get back on my bike … I felt right at home like I used to.”
Together, their stories remind us that resilience is not a solo journey. Healing happens faster and deeper when we accept help, practice gratitude and keep sight of what matters most.
Back on the Bike … and Leading the Ride
David’s Return to Biking
In August, David completed his first race since the accident. “I was nervous, maybe more cautious than before, which can be a good thing,” he admits. “But it felt incredible to be back.”
Now, just six months after his crash, he’s not only healed … he’s leading the BOTO’s Big Ride 2025.
“I feel like I’ve fully recovered,” he says. “But more importantly, I’ve learned to appreciate the support of others, to ask for help and to stay grateful. That’s resilience.”
Elijah’s Return to Biking
“This served as a reminder that sometimes challenge produces the best kind of change; struggle is an opportunity to grow, whether physically, emotionally, relationally, spiritually or otherwise.
And, as we prepare for BOTO’S Big Ride next week, I am very excited about the fresh yet familiar joy of again touring a part of the country I haven’t seen, with people I’ve never ridden with before.”
Their combined return is a powerful symbol … not only of personal strength, but of the resilience we want to inspire in our boys.
The Bigger Purpose: BOTO’s Big Ride
BOTO’s Big Ride is about far more than bikes. It’s about connection, growth and support … just like Cherokee Creek Boys School itself.
The GOALS for BOTO’S BIG RIDE
- Raise awareness for adolescent mental health
- Raise funds for the CCBS FireKeepers Scholarship Fund and
- Challenge the bike team and all of us push through tough times and learn from them!
This year’s CCBS bike team will ride 265 miles over five days from Kansas City to St Louis, Missouri. Riders will face steep climbs, sore muscles and long hours. But as David explains, every challenge is symbolic:
“When our legs are tired, we think about the boys and families who face mental health challenges every day. We remind ourselves: this is what it feels like to push through something hard. And then we ask … what support would help make this easier?”
That’s exactly what the Firekeepers Scholarship Fund provides … support for families who need CCBS but can’t access it without help.
What We Can All Do
You don’t have to ride 265 miles to practice resilience. During the week of the ride, we invite you to set your own challenge.
- Take a long walk.
- Get back on your bike.
- Try a new trail.
- Go for a jog.
- Or even just push yourself to do something that feels difficult … like having a hard conversation or learning a new skill.
Studies show that even moderate daily exercise improves mood, reduces anxiety and builds resilience in both kids and adults (CDC, 2023). So every step you take matters … for your health, your family and your spirit.
And if you’re moved by the purpose behind our ride, we’d love for you to follow along on our social media pages … and consider supporting the Firekeepers Fund.
JOIN the JOURNEY
As John Dewey wrote: “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”
Every ride, every setback, every challenge … these are the real classrooms of life.
David and Elijah’s stories remind us all that we can fall, we can break, but with resilience … and with the support of others … we can rise again stronger than before.
We invite you to follow BOTO’s Big Ride 2025 on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Cheer on David, Elijah and the team … and join us by setting your own resilience challenge.
And if you feel inspired, please consider supporting the Firekeepers Scholarship Fund to help more boys and families find hope and healing at Cherokee Creek Boys School.
Because when one of us grows stronger, we all do.
More About Resilience
Resources About Resilience
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