Muscatine, Iowa–Though this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s may not step off until the fall, Impact Fitness and Nutrition already has plans to kick off their fundraising with their second Ride to End Alzheimer’s. A fun community ride for cyclists of all levels, Impact owners Autumn and Scott Schultz look forward to using the event to continue raising awareness and funds for the Alzheimer’s Association, and to give people one more fun way to work fitness opportunities into their spring plans.

This year’s Ride to End Alzheimer’s will start with on site registration at Impact Fitness and Nutrition, located inside the Muscatine Mall at 1903 Park Avenue in Muscatine. Riders may come and register in person starting at 11 a.m. April 22. Everyone who registers can enter a raffle for exciting prizes and get additional information about the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Riders may also make a freewill donation to the Alzheimer’s Association, which will count towards Impact’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s team fundraising goal.

At about 11:30 a.m., riders will get on the bike trail behind the Muscatine Mall, continue through Weed Park and along the riverfront, and eventually reach Contrary Brewery, where they will stop for a brief refreshment break. They will then turn around and return to Impact. With completely paved trails and no set speed requirements, Autumn Schultz encourages all bike riders to give the Ride to End Alzheimer’s a try. “This event is going to be so much fun, and the more the merrier that can join us!”

The participants in the first Ride to End Alzheimer’s gathered at Impact before the event. Photo courtesy Impact Fitness and Nutrition.

Last year, the Ride to End Alzheimer’s raised $300 to start Impact on the path to reaching it’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s goal. This year, the Schultzes hope to bring in at least $500 to put them well on their way to their team goal of $3,000 by walk day.

Though the Ride to End Alzheimer’s represents on of their biggest events to support the Alzheimer’s Association each year, they hope many people get involved with their other fundraising efforts and the walk itself: “In the summer, we are looking forward to a couple fun golf events, and when we are vendors for businesses we continue sharing the Alzheimer’s Association. As we get closer to the Walk event we do our Five Dollar Flowers and we decorate the gym with the flowers from donations,” Schultz detailed.

Because of their personal connections to Alzheimer’s and other dementias, the Schultzes would like to see many join them in efforts to support the Alzheimer’s Association and all they do to find treatments and support people living with these diseases. “This cause is near and dear to our hearts, as Scott has lost his mother to Alzheimer’s 16 years ago and losing his father this past year who was showing signs of early on set dementia,” Autumn explained. “Our mission is to educate others that the Alzheimer’s Association is more than just finding a cure, it’s about providing the resources for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia and even provide funds and resources for the caregivers.”