A group of Western Kentucky University students are biking across the country this summer to raise money and awareness for Alzheimer’s disease research. More Local Living News
WKU’s Bike4Alz Team XIV, made up of members of the university’s Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, including riders from Franklin and Spring Hill, began its 3,600-mile ride on May 17 in San Francisco, California. The team is scheduled to finish the cross-country journey on July 26 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
The riders are also making stops along the way as part of their Bike4Alz Home Tour, which brings the team through states where members are from for one of their biggest fundraising pushes of the trip. This weekend, the team will be in Spring Hill on the Fourth of July at 2003 Gweneth Drive at 8 p.m., where they will sell merchandise with all proceeds going to Alzheimer’s research.
Lucas Dunning said he first learned about Bike4Alz during his freshman year at WKU after friends participated in the 2025 ride. He knew right away he wanted to take part the following summer because Alzheimer’s had personally impacted his family.
“My uncle’s grandmother and mother unfortunately lost their battles with Alzheimer’s, and I have seen firsthand the way it has impacted my family,” he said. “Alzheimer’s not only affects those diagnosed with the disease, but also the caregivers and loved ones around them.”
Dunning said that personal connection, along with the chance to challenge himself, inspired him to sign up.
“Completing a journey across America is something most people only dream about, so when the opportunity came along, I jumped at it,” he said. “Giving back and being a part of something greater than myself has been an incredible experience, and I am so excited to finish this journey with 11 of my best friends.”
The trip has not come without challenges. Riders have faced hot temperatures, strong headwinds, narrow road shoulders, and long days on the bike. So far, one of the most difficult stretches has been in Colorado, while climbing through the Rocky Mountains.
“Riding uphill at high elevations is incredibly challenging because you are putting out so much effort while only traveling about 8 miles per hour,” he said. “Mentally, it is a tough battle, but it is so rewarding once you reach the top.”
The team climbed to more than 10,200 feet at Cameron Pass, the highest point of the trip. The reward, he said, came on the way down, with riders reaching speeds of more than 40 miles per hour while taking in the scenery in states such as Colorado and California.
“This trip has definitely been a mental challenge because of the number of miles we ride each day, but knowing that every mile supports such an important cause has inspired me throughout the entire journey,” he said.
The team is expected to ride into Bowling Green between July 5 and July 7. For more information on upcoming Home Tour stops and events, visit the Bike4Alz Instagram page.
Members of Team XIV are: Jakob Barker of Wilmore; Jack Barlow of Freeburg, Illinois; Alex Compton of Bowling Green; Lucas Dunning of Franklin, Tennessee; Jonah Hall of Versailles; Miles Harvey (Director of Ride Operations for Team XIV) of Bowling Green; Alex Mooney of Louisville; Rhett Morgan of Spring Hill, Tennessee; Aden Perez of Monticello; Jagger Tomes of Elizabethtown; Korben Walling of Spring Hill, Tennessee and Jack Woolf of Mount Pleasant, Tennessee.
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