Natalie's Everyday Heroes: Miles of success for 'Cycling Without Age' program

 

WALWORTH COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- In this week's Natalie's Everyday Heroes, we have an update on Cycling Without Age. It's a program we first told you about more than a year ago. Cycling Without Age aims to bring back the pleasure of riding a bike for people with Alzheimer's and dementia.

Eric and Bernadette Russow tell us their ridership has exploded this year. They launched their chapter in Walworth County in 2020. Just last year they only had two of their specialized bikes.

They now have six bikes and have given nearly 2,400 rides this season across thirteen different communities. They still get a thrill to do it.

And I'm 80 years old, and I'm still peddling the bikes," Eric Russow said.

"And they all worry when he starts pedaling," his wife, Bernadette Russow teased.

"It's just the feeling that we get that we're doing something nice for the people that have contributed so much to our society," he said.

The Russows have volunteer pilots who take people out on rides. And even though it is October-- they're still going strong. They hope to reach 2,700 rides by the end of the month. They've also ordered another bike that will allow them to take people in wheelchairs for a ride.

With all of that equipment, they need a bigger truck to haul the bikes. They've launched a campaign to raise $78,000 dollars for the new vehicle. For more information, visit HERE. 

If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].