Two Men Cycle Across the United States to Raise Awareness for Parkinson’s Disease
Two men from the Chicago suburbs are embarking on a journey of a lifetime as they cycle across the United States to raise awareness about Parkinson’s Disease. Bill Bucklew from Wilmette and Kevin Murray from Cary have set out on a mission to spread awareness about this neurodegenerative disease and the importance of exercise in managing it.
The two friends, who were both diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s Disease, have taken on this challenge to not only raise awareness but also to inspire others who are living with the disease. “We’re doing about 70 miles a day, covering a total of 4,000 miles and our journey will end in sunny San Diego on July 3,” said Bill Bucklew, one of the cyclists.
Kevin Murray, the team mechanic and RV driver, will be providing support throughout the journey. “I’m going to be helping to tune up the bikes and make sure that everything is running smoothly,” said Murray.
The two men became friends after they were diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. “I was diagnosed in 2012,” shared Bucklew, who is 55 years old. Ever since his diagnosis, Bucklew has been fighting the disease with all his might. “We know that exercise is the one thing that slows the progression of the disease,” he said.
Bucklew’s determination and drive have caught the attention of Daniel Corcos, an exercise neuroscientist from Northwestern University. “He has a drive and an energy which are matched by very few,” said Corcos, who has met Bucklew several times and fully supports his mission. Corcos is currently studying the impact of exercise on Parkinson’s Disease. “The evidence is compelling right now that if you exercise and exercise at high intensity, you will be able to delay the disease progression,” he said.
Bucklew’s motivation to fight Parkinson’s Disease has led him to complete 11 triathlons and 44 marathons. He has also walked across the United States and the United Kingdom, spreading a message of movement and hope. Murray joined him on the U.K. trip and was amazed by the support they received. “They just pulled up the billfold and next thing you know, there’s 100 pounds. And we didn’t ask for money, we’re just telling them about the disease and they just want to help out. A lot of people say, ‘Oh my grandpa had that, my uncle had that, my aunt had that,’” he said.
For Bucklew, this latest challenge is not just a personal goal, but a necessity. “I started thinking about, you know, I walked and now I’m having a little bit of trouble running. What could I do? Cycling, cycling across the US, just meeting people every day, trying to raise awareness for the things that can help with the lifestyle,” he said.
Bucklew will be riding a specialty tricycle, on loan to him from Davis Phinney, an Olympic cyclist who also has Parkinson’s Disease. Phinney fully supports Bucklew’s mission, which he has named “The Long Ride.” Donations collected along the cycling route will be split evenly between the Davis Phinney Foundation and Team Fox of the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
The two men hope that their journey will not only raise awareness about Parkinson’s Disease but also inspire others to stay active and fight against the disease. Their journey will be a testament to the power of determination and the impact of exercise on managing Parkinson’s Disease. Let us join hands and support Bucklew and Murray as they cycle across the United States, spreading a message of hope and raising awareness for this cause.
