YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio—If you walk into the home of Ellen and Lowell Satre, one thing is evident—bicycling is their way of life. 

• The couple have biked all over the world and across the U.S. twice
• They purchased a tandem bike for the 25th wedding anniversary
• The couple, riding in tandem in Pelotonia, expect to raise more than $7,500 this year

“We are actually known around town as the people who bicycle all over town. People recognize us,” said Ellen Satre. 

The Satres each rode bikes growing up and to get to classes in college.

But it really picked up when they wanted a way to spend time together as a couple without the kids. 

“But then we discovered that we both liked it, which doesn’t always happen with couples. It happened with us that we discovered that we like doing that together, and we’ve been doing it ever since,” said Ellen Satre.

For their 25th wedding anniversary, they bought a red tandem bike.

“We now have had it for 29 years and we have about 60,000 miles on that one bicycle,” said Satre. 

“My estimate is that I’ve biked over 125,000 miles in life," said Lowell Satre.

"Half of it has been on the tandem with me,” said Ellen Satre.

The couple has been together more than 50 years— which some would say is an accomplishment in itself—but the Satres wanted to accomplish more together.

They’ve biked across the United States— twice. 

“Riding across the country if you go 50 or 60 miles a day or so... you can actually get somewhere but it’s a slow enough pace that as people say, you can smell the roses... you can really enjoy the outdoors, you can see things and it’s very different from being in a faster vehicle,” said Ellen Satre.

The Satres have biked all over the world—- but in 2012, a bike ride in Columbus, Ohio became one of the most important. 

One of their sons was riding in Pelotonia, and shortly after, Lowell was diagnosed with prostate cancer. 

The following year, Ellen and Lowell got involved. 

“I decided that I would ride and that Lowell would be a volunteer and we would start raising money. Because that’s the whole point is generating funds for cancer research,” said Ellen Satre. 

As Lowell regained his health and went into remission, other members of their family fell victim to cancer. 

“And in 2014 my sister was diagnosed with cancer as well as our son-in-law and we dedicated our ride in 2014 to the two of them,” said Ellen Satre. “But sadly, they each died of lung cancer in September— the same month— of 2014.”

Since 2013, the Satres have participated in Pelotonia each year in one way or another. 

This weekend, they say they feel lucky to still be able to get on their tandem bike and ride. 

“Cancer touches the lives of everybody in one way or another, so it reached out to virtually the whole population and it seems as if all of central Ohio comes out to ring bells and cheer and participate in that way and the inspiration to raise the money,” said Ellen Satre. 

The Satres say they will raise more than $7,500 this year.

Their fundraising efforts will continue into September.