Man biking miles for memories

Last Thursday (July 18), I had an opportunity to meet a man who made me realize my complaints about the extreme heat were not really valid.
That’s because this gentlemen—Jeff Timmermans—has been cycling everyday since June 1 and he’s 74 years old.
I met up with him at the home of Morris and Cindy Judson and their sons. He is a vibrant, physically fit man who is cycling 8,286 km across Canada.
His motivation behind this undertaking, which he has entitled “Miles for Memories,” is in his wife’s honour to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease.
Although this isn’t an effort to raise money for Alzheimer’s, some money was raised beforehand to help cover expenses that occur along the way.
Timmermans has come across many people who want to donate money towards the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. He asks that anyone wishing to do so contact their local Alzheimer’s society.
Timmermans was a very interesting person to talk to as he related with me the wonderful years he shared with his wife.
She was a very vibrant person who loved to play cards, bicycle, and loved life, but over the last eight years, he could see the effect of Alzheimer’s disease on her, slowly at first, and then to the point she had to be put in a facility for her illness.
Timmermans also shared with me the difficulty people face when a family member is struck with this disease.
He trained for a year to be fit for this undertaking, which he plans to finish Sept. 23. Timmermans said the support so far has been awesome and even though the extreme heat has slowed him down, he’s still highly-motivated.
“This ride is to the memory of the wonderful years [my] family had together and to the memory of all families that are affected,” he said.
< *c>Forget Me Not
Yesterday I knew your face,
forgive me, today it has
become misplaced.
A moment ago I could tie my
shoe. I can’t seem to now;
so it’s up to you.
A week ago I could sing
that song, but I can’t now,
the words are gone.
I know this house, I know
this place, but now it’s just
an empty space.
As times goes by, I’ve lost a
lot, but please remember,
Forget me not.
Author unknown