BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — A group of bike riders have been traveling across the country to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease.

What You Need To Know

  • After biking across the country, 12 cyclists from Western Kentucky University traveled through their old stomping grounds for a good cause

  • The group, known as BIKE4ALZ, was started in 2010

  • The group has been raising awareness and nearly $10,000 for Alzheimer’s research

  • The group traveled all the way from San Francisco, which is over 2000 miles

After biking across the country, averaging 14 mph, day in and day out, 12 cyclists from Western Kentucky University traveled through their old stomping grounds.

Tanner Blood, one of the cyclists, said, “It was really, really hot and windy in Kansas. That was challenging. In Nevada, you’re absolutely in the middle of the desert, there’s nothing around you. I’m talking no civilization at all.”

The group, known as BIKE4ALZ, was started in 2010. It has been raising awareness and nearly $10,000 for Alzheimer’s research.

Blood is one the cyclists whose family has been personally affected by the disease. “Personally, my grandma has dementia, So I’m really doing this for her,” he shared.

And so when she saw her grandson and his crew spinning their wheels into the parking lot, it was a feeling like no other.

Terry Beckham, Blood’s grandmother, said, “I’m just so proud of all of them, I would love to be mawmaw for all of them, I really would.”

The group traveled all the way from San Francisco, which is over 2000 miles.

The fight is hard, but for the cyclists, it’s well worth the pain to help people in need.

Tanner Redmon, one of the cyclists, said, “We also understand that the battle we face on the bikes for the next 20 days will never amount to the disastrous effects caused by Alzheimer’s.”

The group will leave on Wednesday to head to their end point at Virginia Beach.

The cyclists will have an event at the Southern Kentucky Marketplace to host a silent auction at 5:00 p.m.

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