Morale was low among Phi Gamma Delta fraternity brothers from Western Kentucky University on Friday as they biked from Hopkinsville to Bowling Green, one leg of their nearly 3,000-mile Bike4Alz trip across the country to raise money for Alzheimer’s disease research.

“As we kept going, we had more and more flats,” said rider Parker Kuhn of Lexington, who will be a junior at WKU in the fall. 

Several flat tires slowed down their ride to Bowling Green, but the mood immediately changed as the group reached the Warren County line, where it picked up a police escort on the rest of the way into town along U.S. 68-Ky. 80.

“When you saw (Pierce Ford Tower), you kind of got goosebumps because we were excited to be back,” said rider Ryne McMullen of Mount Washington.

A group of 12 Phi Gamma Delta members – 10 riders and two drivers – started the journey in Oceanside, Calif., on May 24 and stopped to rest in Bowling Green for the last few days before heading out this morning toward Elizabethtown. Their final destination is Washington, D.C.

All along the way, the group has stopped to raise money for Alzheimer’s disease research and bring awareness to the disease.

They have a goal of $100,000 and have raised more than $28,000 in cash donations for the BrightFocus Foundation, a nonprofit group that supports research and provides public education to eradicate brain and eye diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. 

More than $2,100 was raised at an event Sunday in front of the WKU Augustein Alumni Center, when more than 100 came out to show support for the riders, including WKU President Gary Ransdell and his wife, Julie. 

“It was so cool. He was so interested in what we were doing,” said Bike4Alz driver Brent Stephens, a rising junior from Winchester.

During their stops at WKU and across the country, they’ve shared the reason for their trip and in turn have heard how others have been affected by Alzheimer’s. Though there have been a few rude drivers who honked or cursed at them while they rode, overall, everyone has treated them well and many have asked about their cause. 

“A couple times, we’ve gotten to hear their stories about how Alzheimer’s has affected them,” Stephens said. “It’s really cool and humbling to see how good people are.” 

But the group was one less by the time they arrived in Bowling Green on Friday. Rider Taylor Ruby injured his heel in Missouri and is recovering in TriStar Centennial Medical Center in Nashville while his fraternity brothers complete the ride. 

“He’s in good spirits and he’s doing well,” Stephens said.

It’s been hard for the other riders to keep going, knowing their friend isn’t with them on the rest of the trip, but at the same time, they know he would want them to carry on with the enthusiasm he had for the trip.

“Taylor woke up every morning excited to do it,” McMullen said. 

“It just felt weird” without Ruby, Kuhn said. “He was a motivator. He was always the first to try and help someone.” 

Other than Ruby’s injury and getting many more flat tires than they bargained for, the trip has gone well so far. 

“It’s been maybe the best summer of my life, getting to see the country,” Stephens said.

The group has enjoyed seeing the country by bike – they see so much more than they would driving.

“Even on our best day, we’re only going 16 to 17 miles an hour,” McMullen said. “You have plenty of time to look at what’s around you.” 

— To follow the Bike4Alz trip or donate to the cause, visit www.bike4alz.org.  

— Follow faith/general assignments reporter Laurel Wilson on Twitter at twitter.com/FaithinBG or visit bgdailynews.com.