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Lakewood Team Hits the Road for Alzheimer’s Cure
Two of Lakewood’s avid cyclists — resident Joe Kent and Lakewood Security Manager Brad Muranko — rode 300 miles and 469 miles, respectively, over six days to help stamp out Alzheimer’s disease.
On June 23, Joe and Brad embarked on Team Lakewood’s Ride to Rid Alzheimer’s. In partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Richmond, this event aims to raise funds in support of finding a cure for Alzheimer’s.
While both Joe and Brad are seasoned members of the Richmond Area Bicycling Association (RABA) — a local group known for organizing safe, fun, and charitable bike rides — this seven-day journey held a deeper meaning. It became a personal mission, with each cyclist pedaling in honor of a cherished family member lost to Alzheimer’s: Joe’s mother and stepfather and Brad’s grandmother.
“My mother and stepfather both suffered from dementia in their final years,” Joe says. “I rode to honor them and show that exercise via cycling can maintain both mental and physical health during one’s senior years and draw attention to Lakewood’s Alzheimer’s team fundraising goal.”
Brad echoes the sentiment, sharing, “I have so many memories with my grandma to hold in my heart. My most vivid memories are boating with her in Tennessee when we visited every summer. My grandma was fun-loving and caring. She was a never-ending source of love and laughter. Her enthusiasm, adventurous spirit and kindness helped shape the person I am today. Watching her struggle with Alzheimer’s was very difficult and painful.”
Brad’s 469-mile route took him along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, while Joe covered the same mileage in kilometers (about 300 miles) around the Lakewood campus. With vast distances to conquer, their resolve never wavered even as the duo faced the grueling challenge of maintaining consistent speed over their respective courses. The camaraderie and shared mission kept their spirits high, as they pushed through fatigue and discomfort.
“At the end of each day’s ride, I stopped to talk with the residents and staff who came out to cheer me on. They were so supportive,” Joe explains. “Afterward, I did a short recovery loop and finished up my sport-drink bottles. I was never overly tired except for the last hour on Wednesday when the temperature was in the mid-90s. The training paid off.”
Joe adds, “during the ride, which would seem boring to most, I was constantly focused on avoiding pedestrians and vehicles and keeping up my speed. Those coming onto campus were warned to look out for me and we had a nice young man at the crosswalk by HSB (health services building) to alert walkers and cars to me. That helped. My bike computer was displaying the distance and speed as I rode. My goal was to maintain my normal riding speed of 16-17 mph. I finished with an average speed of 16.4 mph for all 300 miles.”
For Brad and his good friend and cycling partner, Justin, the first day on the Blue Ridge Parkway turned out a little differently.
“Day one was the most challenging weather-wise because we both had heat exhaustion symptoms,” Brad recalls. “We were exposed to high temperatures and high humidity that we weren’t entirely prepared for.”
Although rain would eventually help lower the temps, foggy conditions posed a new challenge for the duo on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
“On Days five and six, we could not see maybe 500 feet in front of us, which is really tough when you’re descending a climb of 2,500 feet and you don’t see the car coming at you until it’s almost on top of you,” Brad explains. “Sometimes cars weren’t even in the correct lane because they had limited visibility, too.”
Throughout the ride, the support of friends, family, fellow cyclists and the Lakewood community was evident. The impact of Joe and Brad’s efforts was not just measured in miles but in the connections they made and the awareness they brought to the fight against Alzheimer’s.
As Joe and Brad crossed their respective finish lines on June 28, the sense of accomplishment was overwhelming. Their journey not only raised significant funds but also highlighted the importance of continued research and support for Alzheimer’s care and prevention.
When asked if either gentleman would be willing to do another Alzheimer’s ride next year, Joe says “probably not” however, he plans to continue riding with RABA groups and encourages exercise as a way to help fend off Alzheimer’s.
“Looking back, it feels good to have done something that brought resident attention to the issue of Alzheimer’s disease and supports ongoing research,” Joe recalls. “I continue to get supportive comments from other residents. Lakewood is an incredible community to be part of.”
For Brad, the overall experience was equal parts emotional and inspiring.
“When I crossed the finish line, it felt like an out-of-body experience because emotionally, I was completely drained — almost like I wasn’t there,” Brad says. “Physically I was OK. It wouldn’t be until the following Sunday that I would realize exactly what we accomplished. I trained for four months and put in 1,600 miles in that time, but it was stressful trying to descend safely at such a high speed. It was this massive physical undertaking, but if the opportunity presents itself, I would do it again with the same people. There was abundant support from my wife, my mom, Justin, Sally (Community Outreach Liaison), Heather (Executive Director), Paige (friend), and of course, the Lakewood community.”
Brad attributes his ability to overcome physical and mental hurdles, and ultimately finishing the ride, to the overwhelming support he received and his unwavering faith.
“Day six was grueling mentally,” Brad reveals. “Throughout the ride, I found solace in talking to my grandma and seeking guidance from the Lord. On that day, we were doing an eight-mile climb with no recovery zone and I found myself struggling to continue. I pulled off the road to get more nutrition from my wife and my mom, who were trailing me. When they left to get me more, a car pulled up. Its front license plate read, ‘Jesus.’”
The driver, Brad says, bore a striking resemblance to his grandmother.
“She got out of the car, walked up in front of me then winked, which is something my grandma used to do to me all the time,” he says with a smile. “At that point, I accepted the message. It was loud and clear.”
Refreshed, Brad returned to his bike and tackled the climb. As he pushed his physical limits, the same car reappeared.
“The driver was hunched over, waving out the window just like grandma used to,” he recalls. “It felt as if an angel, and my grandma, were watching over me. That ride was a profound journey of self-discovery, that revealed my capabilities and equipped me with invaluable lessons I’ll carry forward.”
Joe and Brad’s Ride to Rid Alzheimer’s exemplifies Lakewood’s spirit of giving and compassion along with the power of community and perseverance. To date, the duo has raised approximately $47,165. To learn more about the cause or to donate, visit Team Lakewood’s fundraising page.