Bikers for a cause

Local events show that motorcyclists have big hearts

By Jennifer Eisenbart

Staff Writer

While the muscular roar of Harley-Davidson motorcycles will be heard throughout the area this week as the iconic Milwaukee company celebrates its 110th anniversary, two lesser-known biker events are having a real impact in the Burlington area.

In front of Kindred Health Care and Rehabilitation last Saturday, and the Burlington Town Hall a day later, stood all sorts of motorcycles. One group rode for the memory of a man gone now for more than two years – and the other for memories long gone.

On Saturday, Kindred played host to “Riding for the Memory,” a second-year ride that drew about 50 riders and passengers for the route that wound through southeast Wisconsin.

On Sunday, many of those same riders made their way to Deb Heinzelmann’s “ALS Ice Cream Ride.”

The Kindred ride raised funds for three different organizations – the Alzheimer’s Association, Memory Bridge and Rush Research – while Heinzelmann’s ride raised money for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) research and awareness.

It was clear, though, that while the riders who were participating were motorcycle enthusiasts, there were other reasons to participate in the two events.

“It’s to bring awareness to Alzheimer’s – a good cause,” said Junior Merten, a long-time Burlington Lions Club member who was the lead road captain Saturday for the Kindred ride, and also took part in Sunday’s ride for ALS.

“It’s becoming more and more prevalent,” said Merten, who has had relatives and friends affected by the disease.

April Shepherd and her son, Morgan, decided to come up from Illinois Saturday for the ride, and planned to participate in Sunday’s ride as well.

For April, it was a chance to get out and enjoy the weather.

“Visiting my son during the summer months here. I was looking for some groups to ride with,” April said. “Wisconsin is a beautiful state.”

The cause didn’t hurt, either.

“We definitely need to find an end,” she said. “I’m getting closer to that age every minute, and I don’t want to be affected by it.”

Kindred’s Amber Caruso, the facility’s community liaison, said the ride not only raised awareness about Alzheimer’s, but also helped battle the isolation those suffering from the disease feel.

“I don’t know when they’re going to find a cure,” said Caruso. “(We need to) continue to love them and communicate with them at any stage that they’re at.”

Last year, a woman who had been recently diagnosed with the disease got a chance to participate in the ride when a dealership donated a special “trike” motorcycle she could ride on as passenger.

“She had a great time,” Caruso said. “It was very special for everybody.”

The Saturday ride had a special guest – Miss Southern Lakes Tara Pizer. While Pizer’s platform is to raise awareness for cystic fibrosis – a chronic disease where many don’t live to see old age – Pizer enjoyed the opportunity to bring awareness to another worthy cause.

“I see how this disease affects people and their families,” said Pizer, who is a nursing student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “My grandmother has dementia, and she’s in the process of being tested for Alzheimer’s.

“I think it’s just a great cause, and Cathy (Morgan) does great work,” she added.

Morgan, who runs the Alzheimer’s unit at Kindred, was equally complimentary of Pizer.

“Tara’s platform and all of her hard work as Miss Southern Lakes is something to be admired. She puts her whole heart into everything she does,” Morgan said. “We are not only here to care for the residents on the Reflections Unit, we are here for the whole family.

“Alzheimer’s is a difficult disease to understand, our staff is here to care for, educate, and support the families as well,” she added. “Sometimes it is taking the time to explain things, and sometimes it is taking the time to just give them a hug, either way that is what we are here for.”