Broken Arrow

Daily Ledger

Charlotte Reicks and Marie Nemec are getting their kicks on Route 66.

For the fifth time since initiating the Ride For The Cure program to raise money to benefit Huntington's Disease research, the two women, both in their 60's, left their Grand Junction, Col., homes to bicycle their way nearly 1,100 miles along the historic highway all the way to St. Louis, Mo.

In the process, they hope to raise $20,000, bringing total contributions they have generated to more than $126,000.

This year's ride began on May 16 in Albuquerque, N.M. The peddling pair have already passed through Amarillo and Shamrock,Texas,and Clinton, El Reno, Oklahoma City and Stroud.

While in Broken Arrow, they took the time to pay their respects to corporate sponsor Verne Farque of CDI and get a little well-deserved rest before tackling the foothills of the Ozarks.

They left downtown Tulsa early Saturday morning to complete the final leg of their journey that will take them through Vinita, and Joplin, Springfield and finally, St. Louis.

Once there, they will immediately drive toward Kansas City and once again, unpack their bikes to participate in a 225-mile awareness ride along the Katy Trails.

To accomplish their mission, the women have developed an elaborate system of leapfrog to accomplish the seemingly impossible task of riding a bicycle while driving a supply van.

To start each day's ride,one of them drives the van to a pre-determined location while the other climbs aboard her bike to ride to that spot.

After parking, the van driver peddles ahead so her partner can catch up once she arrives at the vehicle.

At the end of each day, they sleep in churches - often on lumpy couches - or private homes. But they are quick to say the effort and inconvenience is well worth it.

Neither Reicks nor Nemec comes from a family with Huntington's Disease, They have, however, invested considerable time researching the disease and have become quite expert in discussing it.

Formerly known as "Huntington's Chorea," it is a hereditaiy progressively degenerative brain disease that causes involuntary movements of the arms, legs and face, making eating, swallowing, walking and talking almost impossible. -

Victims experience dramatic changes in thinking, judgment and temperament. Depression is common and instances of suicide are seven to eight times higher than normal levels.

Farque said Huntington's Disease "is like the elephant in the room that everybödy knows is there and nobody will talk about" because of the severe impact it has on victims and their families.

While Reicks and Nemec have departed northeast Oklahoma, it is possible to keep abreast of their journey through Nemec's husband at ron.nemec@bigfoot.com or on the website at www.bikeforthecure.org.

Donations can also be made to the Huntington's Disease Society of America, Kick HD on Route 66, 3 Maple Leaf Drive, Saranac Lake, NY 12983.

Any contribution sent to that address will automatically be tripled thanks to a matching grant.