Recently, the Alzheimer’s Association organized virtual rides across the country to raise awareness for the disease.
As this was the first time this ride was hosted in The Villages, members of the Sumter Landing Bicycle Club did their best to help the cause.
It is one of the most emotionally distressing diseases, estimated 6.2 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2021. Seventy-two percent are age 75 or older, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
SLBC members put on multiple rides this past weekend and raised $8,268, as part of the nationwide push known as the Ride to End ALZ.
For the race, the SLBC team brought in 1,328 donations. The original target for the team was $5,000 but with more donations flowing in, they might even touch $10,000, as per Steve Waterhouse, a member of SLBC and the chair of the Central and North Florida Chapter for the Alzheimer’s Association.
“I’m not surprised. I think The Villages residents as a whole are very generous people,” said Kay Carver, of the Village of Sanibel.
Carver rode with nine other members in the A group, which left the Barnes & Noble in Lake Sumter Landing at 8 a.m. The ride had an original route planned out, but due to inclement weather, the group changed its plans. Carver rode more than 100 miles, but most of the group rode about 80 miles.
“We’re going to go out and ride anyway. We enjoy it so much, but to do it for a cause makes it even better,” Carver said.
Nationally, the drive raised $206,533 with 100% of the funds going toward treatment and prevention for Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.
“It’s so emotional and so powerful that they would do that for us,” said Waterhouse, of the Village of Pine Ridge. “One hundred percent of the money goes to research. So to have my friends come out and raise so much money to help find a cure for this in (my wife’s) name, it was really emotional.”
Waterhouse and his wife, Gina, moved to The Villages five years ago when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s so they could find better medical assistance.
Steve said his wife’s illness has stabilized, and she is in great condition. It’s that kind of funding for research that has helped Gina Waterhouse in her fight against Alzheimer’s.
Gina even rode 100 miles over three days, partaking in the virtual ride.
Waterhouse requested the board at an SLBC meeting if members would be interested in helping with the ride, and they were really supportive. But Steve’s favorite part of the ride was getting to thank his friends.
“I ride with these people all the time. These are really, really good friends,” Steve said. “We go out and ride 80, 90, 100 miles on a Saturday and think nothing of it. But the fact that they would commit to not just do the ride but promote our cause and raise this much money, to have a chance to thank them for that was pretty special.”
– Attributed Source, The Villages Daily Sun