Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the Dementia Friendly Community Initiative.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU UNITED WAY CONTRIBUTORS
Bernadette and Eric Russow moved to Elkhorn thirteen years ago bringing with them patience, a thirst to
learn and find humor in the day-to-day, and an ability to love others. Let’s cycle through the evolution of
Bernadette and Eric Russow’s major milestones!
In 2008, Bernadette and Eric Russow joined the Walworth County Aging Network and assisted in raising
awareness and funding for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, in Lake Geneva. Three years after, the walk was
recognized as the #1 walk in the United States for communities of similar size.
In 2015, Bernadette and Eric became trained and established the first Memory Café at the Matheson
Memorial Library in Elkhorn. Since then five additional Memory Cafés have been added: Lake Geneva, Delavan,
Burlington, Whitewater and a second one in Elkhorn. Memory Cafés are comfortable, social gatherings for
those experiencing minor memory loss and/or have mild cognitive impairments, and for caregivers.
In 2017, Bernadette, President, and Eric, Secretary/Treasurer, launched the nonprofit Dementia Friendly Community
Initiative (DFCI) in Walworth County, providing free training to individuals, police, first responders, groups, faith
communities and businesses, interested in learning more about dementia. Their goal is to help the
community become dementia friendly. According to former Wisconsin Governor Martin Schreiber, in his
book My Two Elaines, “The biggest problem is ignorance about Alzheimer’s.” Walworth County became the
first county in Wisconsin to be nationally recognized as dementia-friendly by the Dementia Friends of
America and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging. To date, 6,000 people and 70 businesses
in Walworth County have been trained.
After learning about the 16% increase in death by those with Alzheimer’s in 2020 due to isolation,
Bernadette and Eric began sponsoring Cycling Without Age, a grassroots movement, which started in 2012 in
Copenhagen, Denmark, with the purpose of providing free rides to elderly citizens struggling with isolation,
dementia, Alzheimer’s, and mobility issues. This interactive activity allows these citizens the time and space
to feel the wind in their faces and recall the joy of mobility. Cycling Without Age is an international
phenomenon in over 52 countries. Wisconsin holds the title of most Chapters in the U.S., with 16.
In 2021, DFCI’s first year of operating Cycling Without Age, 400 rides were provided with the use of two trishaw bikes,
called Chats, purchased, and shipped from Denmark at a cost of about $10,000 each. In 2022, 700 rides
were provided with the help of 30 volunteer trishaw pilots, the oldest pilot being 88 years old! Most recently
Bernadette and Eric became the winners of the David Bretl Community Betterment Award, presented by The
Walworth County Economic Development Alliance (WCEDA).
Because of the generosity of contributors to the United Way of Walworth County, DFCI was awarded United
Way funds and ARPA Grants managed by United Way of Walworth County, totaling $20,750. DFCI was just one
of the 45+ community vetted organizations helped by United Way of Walworth County.
This financial contribution helped Bernadette and Eric purchase two additional trishaw bikes for DFCI, at an
increased price of $13,800 each due to inflation, and a second trailer. Bernadette and Eric also noted,
“There are a myriad of ways. We would be remiss if we didn’t thank Kunes Automotive.” Kunes is loaning
the use of a pickup truck used to pull the trailer to and from the numerous locations.
DFCI’s need for financial and volunteer support continues, including the need of specialized skills in computer
and accounting, social media, art design, and project management, as well as more volunteer pilots, for as
little time as 2 to 3 hours a month. Please consider supporting the mission of Bernadette and Eric, to create
dementia-friendly spaces and promote dementia awareness throughout the community. Bernadette says,
“There is a role for everyone in Walworth county with the Dementia Friendly Community Initiative and
Cycling Without Age.”
