The Dave Mirra Foundation Launches With A Board Of Action Sports Legends
Dave Mirra is unquestionably one of the most influential action sports athletes of all time, wowing the world with his daring tricks and leaving an indelible mark in not only BMX, but also rally racing and Ironman races and triathlons.
There is no question that because of Mirra's BMX video parts, X Games medals and magazine spreads, hundreds of kids decided to pick up the sport in the '90s and continuing into the 2000s.
Mirra, nicknamed "Miracle Boy," and fellow BMX legend Ryan Nyquist moved to Greenville, North Carolina, in the '90s, laying the foundation of what would become a thriving BMX ecosystem. Today, Greenville is known as "Protown" for how many professional BMX riders live and/or train there.
Mirra's legacy has continued to grow since his death by suicide in 2016 at the age of 41. Now the launch of the eponymous Dave Mirra Foundation will continue to champion causes that were important to Mirra and his family.
The foundation's mission statement is "to celebrate and continue Dave Mirra's legacy through the lives of his daughters, Madison and Mackenzie. In doing that, the Dave Mirra Foundation will encompass Dave's passions in life, his love for sports and his drive to help and inspire others."
Katie Moses Swope, Mirra's longtime publicist and the president of the Dave Mirra Foundation board, has been working toward the foundation's launch for years.
"I have always wanted to do something for the Mirra girls since the day we lost Dave," Swope said. "It was my daily motivation to see something through so that they would feel loved, supported and that they would know who their dad was and the impact he made on the world."
In 2018, Swope and her husband organized the Mirra & Robinson Benefit held the week of X Games in Minneapolis, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Mirra and Robinson children's education fund.
Swope is also a co-producer on the upcoming documentary about Mirra's life, Miracle Boy: The Dave Mirra Story, which will be released in 2025.
The film is produced by Gratis 7 Production and directed by T.C. Johnstone.
The three pillars of action on which the foundation will focus are Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Getting Kids on Bikes and Helmet Safety and Physical Wellness.
Each pillar will have an element of giving back to underprivileged youth and communities, work that Mirra was passionate about.
Mirra, who suffered multiple concussions throughout his career, was posthumously diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the first action sports athlete to be diagnosed with the disease. Helping kids pursue action sports safely and confidently is thus a major focus of the foundation.
Those who have chosen to serve on the foundation's board share these same values.
"I believe that exercise is the foundation for a happy and healthy life," said motocross legend and board member Travis Pastrana. "In an age where it's so easy to stay inside, play video games and fall into a downward spiral chasing likes on social media, the Dave Mirra Foundation will help so many of today's youth find passion using bikes to encourage fitness that will continue with them for the rest of their lives."
The board will consist of Swope as president; co-chair Lauren Mirra Everett, Mirra's widow; Mirra's daughters, Madison and Mackenzie; Mirra's former agent, Steve Astephen; professional BMX rider Daniel Dhers; motocross champion and Mirra's Race Across America teammate, Micky Dymond; skateboarding legend Tony Hawk; Lesley Loughlin, marketing manager, triathlon at Cervelo; Pastrana; former X Games general manager Chris Stiepock and BMX pro Nigel Sylvester, Mirra's first street rider on the bike company he founded in 2007, MirraCo.
The first meeting of the board will take place in mid-December. Its members aim to meet virtually four times a year as well as in person at future events and fundraisers. Initially, the funds raised through the foundation will go toward finishing and releasing the documentary.
"The up-and-coming Dave Mirra Foundation seeks to inspire the lives of people of all ages through my dad's story and encourages them to never give up," said 18-year-old Madison Mirra, who plays Division I volleyball at East Carolina University.
"My dad always instilled in me to 'dream big,' 'stay strong,' and 'dig deep,'" Madison continued. "These phrases are just a few reasons why he kept doing what he did to become successful and provide for his future family. It goes to show that dreaming isn't unrealistic. I hope this provides a deeper meaning to future generations on what it means to overcome and pursue your passions."
Madison's 17-year-old sister, Mackenzie, a junior at JH Rose High School in her hometown of Greenville, North Carolina, said that the launch of the foundation, to her, represents "a new chapter of my dad's legacy, continuing to inspire and give back to others through his passions."
"This foundation is really special to me knowing this is exactly what my dad would have wanted," Mackenzie added. "I hope [it] inspires others to make a positive impact not only on themselves but also on others as they strive to live life to the fullest."
After turning pro in BMX in 1992, Mirra racked up 24 career X Games medals, a record that stood until it was broken by skateboarder Bob Burnquist in 2013.
In those days, Mirra, Hawk and Pastrana were synonymous with X Games in BMX, skateboarding and motocross, respectively.
"Dave Mirra meant so much to all of us in the X Games community," said Stiepock. "He was instrumental in bridging the gap between ESPN and the action sports athletes and culture. His positive, can-do spirit was infectious and that, combined with his extraordinary talent, served as a strong catalyst for the growth of the X Games brand."
Earlier this year, Mirra was honored with a permanent memorial at Jaycee Skatepark in Greenville, the place his legend began.
Mirra was inducted into the BMX Hall of Fame on June 11, 2016. On Monday, November 11, the New York state native will be inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame, with his daughters accepting on his behalf. Lauren and Dave's dad, Mike, will give speeches.
"There so many layers to the foundation because Dave had so many layers," Swope said. "He was involved in so many sports. With the board members, we wanted to represent all the parts of Dave's life, who he impacted and who impacted him. It's an honor to hold Dave's legacy in our hands."
