Support the Hank Poore Foundation

The Hank Poore Foundation is thrilled to present the 1st Annual Brian Smith Memorial [+more] Ride - Ride On. This will be a special event honoring Brian, who embodied everything that the The Hank Poore Foundation represents.
Please take time to read the info about Hank and Brian, and the very special way their paths crossed.
Save the date - May 27th- and start riding that bike!
Details regarding registration will follow soon!
It is rare when two people’s lives cross in such a powerful way as Brian Smith and Hank Poore. They both embody the spirit of overcoming and forming lifelong friendships in the process.
Brian Smith was a head injury survivor and avid bicyclist. After an accident that left Brian unable to walk, he couldn’t participate in athletics, which had been a large part of his life. He lost contact with previous teammates and friends, becoming very isolated and depressed. Eventually, he discovered he could ride a recumbent bike, and ride he did, logging thousands of miles on his bikes over many years. This allowed him to exercise and re-engage socially, making many new friends all throughout the state, region, and even country. Brian was able to share his love of biking with Hank Poore, by giving Hank his first recumbent bike. As they say, the rest is history! Hank rode that bike, and all the ones that followed, all over the State and even the country.
Both Brian and Hank understood, from a personal perspective, the value of inclusivity of recreational opportunities for all individuals, regardless of ability/disability. The goal of the Hank Poore Foundation is to facilitate inclusivity by providing recreational opportunities for people with disabilities in Tuscaloosa and Tuscaloosa County. When Brian Smith passed unexpectedly in 2022, The Hank Poore Foundation decided to honor this young man and his connection to the purpose of the Foundation by organizing an annual Brian Smith Memorial Ride. We are hopeful that the funds raised from this ride will provide