A 900-mile bike journey to raise awareness for Parkinson’s disease

“If there’s not a chance it will kill you, then where’s the fun?

Mark the fearless words of Doug Bahniuk. An avid cyclist, Doug has ridden hundreds of miles across the U.S. to raise money and awareness for Parkinson’s disease, which he suffers from. Doug is about to face his greatest and most challenging solo ride.

On July 21, the 58-year-old will embark on a 900-mile bike journey from Prudhoe Bay to Anchorage, Alaska. He will encounter dangerous gravel roads, harsh winds, and unpredictable weather. He won’t be stopping at any local hotels, simply camping on the tundra and in forests filled with bears, caribou, and wolves.

Doug will have to pack enough food and water to last him five days, as there are no restaurants along his journey. Most importantly he will have to be prepared to listen to his body when his feels a tremor coming on.

“Sometimes I get tremors in my hand, which makes putting up a tent or fixing a flat tire almost impossible,” he said as he reached into his pocket for one of his pills. “My condition requires taking medication every three hours, so delaying my meds presents a challenging situation.”

This is Doug’s second Alaskan bike ride. Last year, he rode 382 miles from Anchorage to Fairbanks and raised over $30,000 for Parkinson’s research. Doug has also participated in a series of cross-country rides, including tours from Portland to Boston. In 2007, he completed a 900-mile journey from Boise to Denver. He has also biked from Denver to St. Louis, and rode from Cleveland to Boston.

Doug was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2003. Since then he has devoted most of his time to raising money and awareness for the Davis Phinney Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by cyclist and U.S rider Davis Phinney who also suffers from Parkinson’s.

For more information about Doug and his upcoming rides, including this year's pledge bike ride on October 8, visit www.dougswildride.wordpress.com