The US cross-country bike ride Stroke Across America has less than 500 miles to go to complete their 4,300-mile journey.
The group launched their bikes from Astoria, Oregon on May 19 to raise awareness of stroke, aphasia, brain injury, and the subsequent emotional recovery.
Known as Stroke Across America, the 4,300-mile cycling route was designed to enable the team to visit cities across the country, connect and celebrate stories of hope and resilience.
“What a joy it has been to spend the summer meeting new people, many stroke survivors and those who support them, especially after two long, isolating years of living in the Covid pandemic,” said former college professor, stroke survivor, and author Debra Meyerson.
For Steve Zuckerman and his wife Debra Meyerson cycling has been a lifelong way to stay active. Cycling across the country has been on their “bucket list” for decades.
When Debra, a Stanford University professor, experienced a severe stroke in 2010, it changed their lives forever.
But Meyerson and Zuckerman have refused to let the disabilities that Debra has from her stroke, including aphasia, stop them from living life to the fullest.
The couple co-founded the non-profit Stroke Onward to ensure stroke survivors and their supporters have the resources needed to rebuild identities and rewarding lives.
“We knew that sharing our story and meeting others to learn about their experiences had the potential to spark needed change in the healthcare system to better meet the needs of stroke and traumatic brain injury survivors everywhere,” the couple said.
Knowing how powerful it is to connect with others and the importance of raising awareness about stroke and aphasia, Steve and Debra were inspired to organise the bike ride to spread life-saving information on strokes and related conditions along the way.
Cycling has been shown to help chronic stroke patients by stimulating motor regions in the central nervous system and activating the cerebral cortex which eventually improves motor learning and balance.
The coast-to-coast ride will end on August 27 in Boston.
