Bikers gather weekly on the Wabash Trace for Thursday night taco rides, a favorite outing of Mike Kutilek.Kutilek passed away in 2020 after battling mental illness, so his family launched Bike with Mike in 2021 to honor his memory and focus on mental health awareness. “Our third oldest son, Mike, contracted mental illness when he was in his late 20s and passed away, in 2000 and, 20. And he loved the outdoors. He loved to bike,” Steve Kutilek said. Steve and Ann Kutilek spearheaded their passion project in 2021 to honor their son, with the mission centering around mental health. “Until you have a mental health crisis in your family and you actually get to witness it in person, you really don’t know how scary it is,” he said.”In 2021 we met the Kutilek family and they were really looking at how they could raise awareness in the Omaha area for mental health,” said Aileen Brady.The event takes place on the same trail Mike rode, linking family, friends, and the community with mental health as the mission. “It’s been a long time since I’ve lived here but it seriously feels like no time has passed,” Emily Mayfield, an Omaha native and this year’s ride sponsor, said. “Mike and I were friends were great friends in grade school and high school and obviously went to college together. And we always had such a tight-knit group of friends.”Emily, along with her husband, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, sponsors the ride, making their visit especially meaningful as they honor her childhood friend. “I had no idea the internal struggles he was dealing with,” she said. With one in four adults suffering from some form of mental health issue, Bike with Mike aims to bring that conversation to the forefront.”We’ve got trail signs from the trailhead here in Council Bluffs all the way down to Mineola with education,” Steve said.As bikers navigate the Wabash Trace, they learn how to better navigate mental illness alongside nearly 300 others, symbolizing that no one is ever alone on their journey. “Trying to recognize the signs in people you know and sometimes they hide it really well. But asking for help, it’s a strength, it’s not a weakness at all,” Baker said.In its fifth year, Bike with Mike has now surpassed a million dollars, all for mental health. Steve said, “When we started this, fundraising was not an objective. What we wanted to do was have an event that honored Mike’s memory and start breaking down the stigma,” said Steve. “Our generous community realized the need,” and noted, “So it’s really really amazing how the community has rallied behind us.” NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Bikers gather weekly on the Wabash Trace for Thursday night taco rides, a favorite outing of Mike Kutilek.
Kutilek passed away in 2020 after battling mental illness, so his family launched Bike with Mike in 2021 to honor his memory and focus on mental health awareness.
“Our third oldest son, Mike, contracted mental illness when he was in his late 20s and passed away, in 2000 and, 20. And he loved the outdoors. He loved to bike,” Steve Kutilek said.
Steve and Ann Kutilek spearheaded their passion project in 2021 to honor their son, with the mission centering around mental health.
“Until you have a mental health crisis in your family and you actually get to witness it in person, you really don’t know how scary it is,” he said.
“In 2021 we met the Kutilek family and they were really looking at how they could raise awareness in the Omaha area for mental health,” said Aileen Brady.
The event takes place on the same trail Mike rode, linking family, friends, and the community with mental health as the mission.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve lived here but it seriously feels like no time has passed,” Emily Mayfield, an Omaha native and this year’s ride sponsor, said. “Mike and I were friends were great friends in grade school and high school and obviously went to college together. And we always had such a tight-knit group of friends.”
Emily, along with her husband, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, sponsors the ride, making their visit especially meaningful as they honor her childhood friend.
“I had no idea the internal struggles he was dealing with,” she said.
With one in four adults suffering from some form of mental health issue, Bike with Mike aims to bring that conversation to the forefront.
“We’ve got trail signs from the trailhead here in Council Bluffs all the way down to Mineola with education,” Steve said.
As bikers navigate the Wabash Trace, they learn how to better navigate mental illness alongside nearly 300 others, symbolizing that no one is ever alone on their journey.
“Trying to recognize the signs in people you know and sometimes they hide it really well. But asking for help, it’s a strength, it’s not a weakness at all,” Baker said.
In its fifth year, Bike with Mike has now surpassed a million dollars, all for mental health. Steve said,
“When we started this, fundraising was not an objective. What we wanted to do was have an event that honored Mike’s memory and start breaking down the stigma,” said Steve. “Our generous community realized the need,” and noted, “So it’s really really amazing how the community has rallied behind us.”
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