Residents of Covenant Village of Turlock used brains and brawn to pedal 334 miles and raise nearly $1,200 during the first annual Pedal to End Alzheimer’s CyberCycle Challenge, a month-long cycling competition in September against sister community, The Samarkand, in Santa Barbara. During the challenge, 21 residents took turns riding the CyberCycle, a recumbent bike that uses virtual environments, video game features, group rides, and the spirit of healthy competition to motivate riders.

Resident Vic Beltz led the competition in money raised – nearly $300 for pedaling 35 miles. Both he and Chuck Johnson, Covenant Village of Turlock’s executive director and fellow cyclist, said supporting the local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association motivated them to keep pedaling.

“This was my first real experience with the CyberCycle, and having the incentive to help a worthy cause really kept me pedaling. As a community serving seniors, we want to do all we can to work toward Alzheimer’s prevention, and those who participated had a great experience along the way,” said Johnson.