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DFCI's Cycling Without Age Program GAVE Over 2,400 Rides in 2025
LAKE GENEVA – Dementia is a brain disorder that can arrive in many forms and affect those surrounded by it in a variety of ways.
Understanding the disease can often be one of its biggest challenges.
“Most people don’t realize how many people are walking around with dementia,” said Bernadette Russow, President of Dementia Friendly Community Initiative (DFCI) – Walworth County.
“They forget that people with dementia work, travel, shop … you name it. The general public doesn’t know this.”
Having witnessed three generations of her family battle dementia, Bernadette was born into the disease.
She’s hoping to share what she’s learned to help others.
In 2020, Bernadette and Eric Russow started DFCI – Walworth County. It’s one of over 60 Wisconsin chapters and one of the state’s largest, according to Eric Russow.
Through its popular Cycling Without Age program, volunteers give people with dementia rides on a Nihola Trishaw, an electric-powered tricycle made in Denmark.
Through grants and donations, DFCI – Walworth County purchased seven bikes with an eighth one specially equipped with its own wheelchair on the way.
Volunteer "pilots" gave 2,400 rides in 2025.
Community State Bank’s Lisa Galvan lost her mother Peg in 2022 from posterior cortical atrophy, a form of dementia.
Through the bank’s eighth annual #Gift2Giving employee-driven donation campaign, Galvan and 10 of her coworkers raised $1,950 for DFCI – Walworth County.
It’s the fifth year in a row Galvan helped gather donations for the local nonprofit.
“We are so grateful for Lisa and what she’s done for us,” Eric Russow said. “You don’t think it’s a whole lot, but it is a whole lot. It makes such a difference for us.”
DFCI – Walworth County does more than just organize bike rides.
The Russows plan to spend this winter educating area businesses, agencies and organizations with dementia-friendly training.
It all started when the couple introduced a “memory café” at an Elkhorn library. There are now seven of them throughout Walworth County.
In May 2024, Bernadette was presented with the Professional Caregiver Award in Wisconsin by the Alzheimer’s Association.
“We’re able to get people who have dementia tell us their stories,” Bernadette said. “One woman came up to me and said, 'I don’t know what to do with my husband. He’s always in the driveway. He’ll spend two hours out there and I don’t know what he’s looking for.'”
One day, the man walked back from the end of the driveway, opened his hand and showed his wife a green stone.
“Evidently, that’s what he was looking for,” Bernadette said.
Bernadette said she especially touched by a blind man who signed up for a bike ride. He walked away in tears.
“We weren’t exactly sure why he was crying, if it was a good or bad cry,” Bernadette said. “We soon discovered it was the first time he’d ever been on a bike. He never experienced the feeling of the wind blowing on his face. He loved it.”
DFCI – Walworth County organizes monthly “No Hush Movies” for people with early onset dementia and their caregivers. The movies are showed second Wednesdays each month at Emagine Geneva Lakes in Lake Geneva.
The movies are played with lights on and the volume adjusted accordingly, allowing attendees to converse, sing along and even dance if they choose.
“We’re trying to make them feel part of the community and not make them feel ostracized,” Eric Russow said. “We’re trying to reduce that stigma.”
Eric and Bernadette recently announced they are retiring next year and are hopeful someone passionate about helping others can take over the local chapter.
“It’s time for us to retire soon,” Eric Russow said. “I can’t tell you how rewarding this experience has been for us.”
CSB President Bob Findysz and VP | Market President (Lake Geneva) Bryan Iwicki contributed their #Gift2Giving funds to DFCI – Walworth County. Other CSB employees joining them included Tracy Waldron, Kathy Sheffer, Molly Krause, Jackie Kolbeck, Sarah Watkins, Becky Urban, Joshua Eberlein, Mike Fohey and Natalie Strasser.
To contact DFCI, click HERE. To learn more about Community State Bank’s #Gift2Giving campaign and other local recipients, click HERE.