Riding to remember

SAM Locandro was sixty-one years old when he died, living with younger onset dementia for the last seven years of his life.

His son Nick Locandro, a professional cyclist, is coordinating and completing A Ride to Remember for a second time, to generate “crucial awareness” of the disease and raise funds.

With fellow Ballarat cyclists, Jamie Huggett and Jeremy Cowan rolling alongside, the trio will ride 1000km on South Australia’s Mawson Trail for six days, beginning Saturday, 21 September.

This week’s event differs from Locandro’s first ride for the cause in 2018, when he travelled 2300kms over two weeks from Uluru to Ballarat and raised $40,000.

“The first ride was an emotional release for me, and we created a discussion point about dementia,” he said.

Encouraging conversation about the disease is important to Locandro, who was initially confused when his 54-year-old dad was diagnosed.

“I was thinking, what’s younger onset dementia? I thought it was a disease that just affects the elderly, which is still the common perception.

“But I thought, how can we start to create more knowledge around dementia? It’s the second leading cause of death in Australia and people still don’t really know what it is. It’s scary,” he said.

Originally, the 2018 ride was going to be once off, but Locandro has since co-founded local not-for-profit, This is Dementia.

“Although the foundations of the ride are in memory of dad, it’s bigger than that now.

“I’ve realised, more and more, the need for people advocating for dementia. Unfortunately, we don’t have a Carrie Bickmore or a Neale Daniher, and I think there is a gap in the community,” Locandro said.

Money raised will be directed to Ballarat’s Eyres House and This is Dementia.

“Our charity focusses on awareness, increasing knowledge, and we’re setting up a network of periodic events like lunches, pilates classes, walks, movie sessions for people with dementia and their carers.

“We’re trying to close that gap and help people with dementia who are affected now,” he said.

Certainly helping now, Locandro’s ready to set off on Saturday, with Huggett and Cowan, from a quiet little spot.

“It starts at a town called Parachilna. It’s got a population of about 16 people with a pub there. It’s pretty remote which adds to the challenge.

“Last year we had a follow car for the whole time, but we don’t have access to that for the whole time, only parts of it,” Locandro said.

“We’ll finish at the University of South Australia. They’ve got dementia researchers there, so it ties in really well.”

Follow along on Facebook at @thisisdementia or on Instagram at @thisisdementia_inc.

Those interested in contributing can head to mycause.com.au/page/208271/a-ride-to-remember-2019.