Childhood Lore
“The aforementioned climb ranks high on my personal list of childhood traumas—this being one of terror.”
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One man’s quest to raise awareness and funding for dementia research.
This blog chronicles my efforts to build awareness about the plight of dementia suffers and their caregivers through a bicycling centered adventure. Follow the pitfalls, follies, learning and triumphs of my attempt to rebuild and restore a pre-world war two bicycle, train and ride through Western North Carolina’s rolling hills and mountains. The concept of this ride stems from my desire to relive and celebrate my fathers greatest childhood cycling tale — an accomplishment that he lost all memory of to ravages of dementia.
Through the physical connection with a bicycle, one discovers a romance woven with the liberation of movement, where the mechanical simplicity of two wheels mirrors the essence of life itself, inviting us to pedal through moments of clarity amidst the chaos of existence. Bicycles oft symbolize cherished memories of personal freedom, adventure, and milestones of ones life, deeply embedding themselves in our minds and souls. Most all of us have some part of our consciousness that we owe to a bicycle, I cannot think of a more fitting or elegant “vehicle” to associate with an effort to bring peoples attention to a cause and endeavor to relate to another’s cherished story.
This ride represents a personal challenge as well as having a great backstory. The roadways of the route itself mostly still exist, (albiet disjointed) as they did in 1938. Following the route on a pre-war Elgin bicycle (the most prolific US bicycle of the period — purveyed by Sears and Roebuck Co.) creates the same challenges faced in 1938. Even by today’s standards, for a novice cyclist, this is a daunting 2 day ride — 220 miles long and climbing more than 13,500 feet. As far as the backstory goes, please explore the blog, watch, read and follow along. Then most importantly, please advocate for dementia research, understanding and assistance.
In short, raise money and awareness. Dementia affects over 55 million people around the world and is becoming more common. Researchers are trying to find out what causes it, how to detect it early, and how to treat it. They’ve made progress in understanding the risks and testing new treatments. Public programs are working to raise awareness, support caregivers, and make care services more accessible. These efforts aim to improve lives of people suffering with dementia and reduce its impact on their families.
“The aforementioned climb ranks high on my personal list of childhood traumas—this being one of terror.”
Be the victim… Imagine that all of your memories, the very memories that allow you to perceive your being, define
— featured image — Ms. Magazine 40th Anniversary Murphy C. Anderson Jr. / American Comic Book Artist1926-2015 There is an