Pa. man bikes across the country to conquer kidney disease

By creator to news.google.com

STOCKTON, New Jersey (WPVI) — We’re Philly Pleased with a person named Will Kleemeier, whose unimaginable willpower has stored him pedaling throughout all the nation.

“18 years in the past, I used to be recognized with polycystic kidney illness. It is a hidden illness. There is not any remedy for it,” he mentioned. “However when my kidney operate actually dropped dramatically, I then modified my way of life.”

Kleemeier was born exterior of Studying and now resides in New Hope, Pennsylvania. He picked up biking, an previous pastime that had gotten away from him as his household grew older. Then, the gears began turning on fulfilling a lifelong dream: using his bike from coast to coast.

“My household mentioned, hey, let’s make it a fundraiser and a device, a car to lift consciousness for the illness as a result of so few individuals really find out about it,” he mentioned.

After years of coaching, Kleemeier and his son, Patrick, drove to Seaside, Oregon. Patrick drove again in the direction of the East Coast on the tempo that Will cycled. They spent many nights tenting collectively.

“I averaged 62 miles per day,” mentioned Kleemeier. “It took me 56 biking days, however I had two main setbacks.

Whereas leaving Chicago, Kleemeier crashed his bicycle and suffered a damaged elbow. To be able to heal, he and Patrick returned house for eight weeks. Then, as soon as he recovered, Kleemeier returned to Chicago, this time along with his sister on the supporting wheel, to complete the job.

Upon arrival in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Kleemeier endured a week-long bout with COVID-19 and was able to hit the street one final time. Three days later, he crossed the end line in Ocean Metropolis, New Jersey, and dipped his bicycle wheel within the waters of the alternative ocean from whence he got here.

But it surely wasn’t only a sense of aid and pleasure that he walked away with.

“Many individuals have by no means heard of polycystic kidney illness,” he mentioned. “And it actually gave me a possibility to go from small city to small city and meet individuals alongside the best way and let individuals find out about it.”

Kleemeier gifted cyan-colored wristbands to strangers sporting the phrases, “Will Energy,” and a link to his website to be taught extra in regards to the trigger. He introduced some to Bull’s Island Recreation Space in Stockton, New Jersey, the place he met Motion Information to share his story.

Fortuitously, Kleemeier’s PKD is slow-progressing and he has not required dialysis or a transplant. So, he’ll preserve pedaling ahead into the longer term by elevating consciousness for many who are in additional dire want.

“The extra consciousness, hopefully we will shorten the wait time for those that really do want a transplant,” he mentioned.

Kleemeier’s Pedaling for Kidney Disease fundraiser helps the PKD Foundation, for which he has collected greater than $50,000 in donations. To be taught extra about both, go to their web sites.

— to news.google.com