Cyclist arrives in Turkey following Alzheimer’s awareness ride spanning 46 days. An expatriate Turkish person turned a personal family experience into a campaign to increase public awareness of Alzheimer’s disease by cycling more than 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) from Amsterdam to Istanbul.
Born and raised in the Netherlands, 34-year-old banker Semih Gürůz spent 46 days cycling through seven countries before arriving in Istanbul. The trip was motivated by his grandmother’s memory, who had Alzheimer’s.
Speaking after arriving in Istanbul, Gürňz stated that the encounter made clear how crucial it is to spread awareness of a disease that impacts millions of people globally.
“My grandmother had Alzheimer’s, and her illness deeply affected me,” he said. “At the time, we didn’t know enough about how to support someone living with the disease. We learned more as time passed, but much of that knowledge came too late.”
He stated that raising public awareness of Alzheimer’s and educating people on how to support and interact with sufferers and their families was one of the journey’s primary objectives.
The trip was finished without the use of an electric bicycle. The bicycle occasionally weighed between forty and fifty kg in total, including his bags.
He had to overcome several logistical and physical obstacles while traveling through seven different nations. According to Gürňz, he came across vast expanses of remote countryside, roads without designated bike lanes, and rugged terrain.
“There were places where I had to push my bicycle uphill for long distances,” he said. “In some areas there were nocycling paths, so I had to share the road with vehicles. There were also moments when stray dogs chased me or when I found myself completely alone on remote roads.”
Gürňz claimed he never thought about giving up on the journey despite the difficulties. He clarified that his motivation was sustained by memories of his grandmother and the larger objective of increasing awareness for Alzheimer’s.
His feelings grew more intense as he got closer to Turkey. On the 42nd day of his journey, Gürŏz arrived in the country and said that one of the highlights of his trip was seeing the Turkish flag. “When I saw the Turkish flag, I couldn’t hold back my tears,” he said.
He claimed that after entering Turkey, he was moved by the kindness and support he received from locals, businesspeople, and random people he encountered.
The trip came to a conclusion in Istanbul, where Gürňz was greeted by his fiancée and family in a surprise reception that he called “one of the happiest moments of his life.”
In addition to increasing awareness of Alzheimer’s, Gürŏz hopes that his path inspires people to take better care of their brains and lead healthier lifestyles.
He emphasized that physical fitness should not be the exclusive goal of exercise. “Sport is not only for building muscles,” he said. “It is also important for training the brain. We need to take care of our minds as much as we take care of our bodies.”
Gürŏz urged individuals to maintain an active lifestyle from a young age by engaging in mentally stimulating activities like walking, cycling, reading, and trying new things.
“I rode every meter with the goal of reaching Istanbul,” he said. “It was an unforgettable journey, both physically and emotionally.”
Source: Daily Sabah
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