Capitol to Capital: A Two Gays Production

THE PLAN

 

Over Memorial Day Weekend 2022, Heather Bauer and Megan McCollum are taking on a new challenge. Over three days, they will ride the 150 miles from Washington, DC to Richmond, VA along the East Coast Greenway. The Greenway is a 3,000-mile walking and biking route stretching from Maine to Florida. They are riding in support of CurePSP, which is dedicated to increasing awareness of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and related brain disease.

 

They have decided to ride for CurePSP in memory of Megan's father, Bill McCollum​, who was diagnosed with PSP in November 2021 and succumbed to complications of the illness in December 2021. PSP is a rare neurodegenerative disorder that has no known cause or cure.

 

 

This fundraiser is a continuation of a charity ride series started on 05 September 2020 when Heather and Megan tackled their first section of the East Coast Greenway. They rode an almost 60-mile portion from Washington, DC (Union Station) to Annapolis, MD (Maryland State House). In doing so, they raised $2,545 in support of one of their favorite DC charities, the Wanda Alston Foundation.

 

THE RIDERS

 

Heather and Megan are both residents of Washington, DC. Cycling is a mutual love. Together with tackling the East Coast Greenway, their 2022 goal is to complete their first century (100-mile ride). Outside of that, they support cycling advocacy through rides with Bikes & Beers and Washington Area Bicyclist Association. In addition, they both participate in the Chesapeake and Potomac Softball League  and Stonewall Climbing , which are leagues that provide a safe place to play and interact in the LGBTQ community. They also have a bit of an unhealthy competition between themselves over board games. They are excited to be taking on this challenge and honored to raise money for CurePSP.

 

THE CHARITY

CurePSP advances the understanding and seeks treatment and cure for progressive supranuclear palsy(PSP) and related "prime of life" neurodegenerative diseases by funding research that focuses on (a) the causes and risk factors for these disorders, (b) biomarkers and clinical tests that aid in diagnosis, (c) genetic variants that are associated with the diseases, (d) therapies that would prevent, stop, or reverse brain damage associated with pathological protein accumulation in the brain, and (e) aiding pharmaceutical companies and research institutions in recruitment of cohorts for clinical trials and marketing of those trials. CurePSP provides critical brain-tissue samples to researchers through its support of the Mayo Clinic's brain bank. (Frequently Asked Questions )