Maysie "Bikes for Dementia"

Eight hours of pedalling is set to leave a lifetime's worth of impact for those in South Canterbury affected by Alzheimer's.

Last Friday, Brendon "Maysie" May set up a stationary pedal bike on Timaru’s Strathallan Corner and pedalled for eight hours straight as a way to support his dad ‘‘Blue’’ May, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. In total, he raised $17,00 for the Alzheimer's South Canterbury Fund which, thanks to the dollar-fordollar matching campaign with the St Vianney’s Timaru Trust, will be doubled $34,000. Brendon said he was ecstatic to have raised that amount after initially setting a $10,000 goal.

‘‘It's pretty humbling, I didn't think we'd get that much. He said the power of Voltaren got him through the eight hours. ‘‘It was in the fourth hour that I got some cramp in my calf and then I put a bandage on and my wife rubbed some Voltaren gel or whatever it was into it.

‘‘I was starting to worry, but that gel was actually unbelievable — but the last two hours were pretty painful. It was a relief to stand up but then when I went to sit back down it was like, ‘ah, my ass’.

‘‘I was a bit stiff Saturday and Sunday.’’

All the support he received on the day was actually the biggest help, he said.

“The support from the people and having people beside you on the bikes was gold. That made the time go quicker, just talking and encouraging each other. Mum and Dad joined me which was awesome, I don't think he'd been on a bike since he was 12.’’

He said it was quite emotional as the final minutes approached.

‘‘Dad had tears in his eyes and that almost set me off too. At about three minutes to go, I almost thought I was going to start crying. I don't know whether that was fatigue or just the emotion of the day.’’

Alzheimer's South Canterbury service manager Rosie Chambers said she was overwhelmed by the support the fundraiser received. ‘‘It was heartwarming to see that people saw this as a cause that was worthy of giving to and that it is really close to a lot of people's hearts, especially in a climate where times are really tough financially for people.

‘‘It was just amazing to see people coming along on the day and supporting, but also people donating in the background as well. She said it was great to have had people with dementia come along and support ‘‘Maysie’’, it made them realise that this was for them and that their lives do matter.’’

The money raised would go a long way, she said.

‘‘We're going to put it in our Alzheimer's South Canterbury Community Fund which is managed by teh Aoraki Foundation, it's going to be put aside for people to follow in our footsteps and all those families that are yet to come into the service.

‘‘It'll provide that bit of financial security for the organisation but also for families knowing that what we're doing now is actually to make sure that we're still here when they need us.’’

She was very thankful to ‘‘Maysie’’ and the community for all their support. ‘‘I'm just so grateful to our community and no amount of thank you will ever seem enough. I think what people don't understand is the impact that dollar or $10 or $50 that they've given will make on the community longer term and how many families that will impact.’’

Mr May said he was so thankful for everyone who stopped by to pedal, donate or just say hello.

‘‘It just shows you what a great community we've got here locally, we care about each other and look out for each other.’’

‘‘I'm just proud of the fact we've raised that much money and awareness. That's the most important goal, and what was most important for me.’’

This article is abridged from the Timaru Courier’s Connor Haley. Thanks Connor for your continued support of community organisations and events.