An Oak Harbor care facility employee took a “Ride Two Remember” Monday in an effort to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association.

The tandem bike ride was completed by Ami Timm and riding partner Mike Merickel.

Timm is the Life Enrichment Coordinator for HomePlace Special Care Center in Oak Harbor, a facility that takes care of residents with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

HomePlace is also participating in a Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday, Sept. 13, in Burlington. They’ve been fundraising for the event for a while, including having a bake sale during the Music Festival. They raised hundreds of dollars before the bike ride Monday.

Timm raised $1,424 with the bike ride.

“What started out as … a silly kind of idea, which I didn’t think would go that far, has earned probably more money than I ever imagined,” Timm said. “I’m really humbled by the amount of people that have donated.”

The idea came about while Merickel’s mother, Mary Lou Reilly Merickel, who had Alzheimer’s, was a resident at HomePlace.

Timm said she had always wanted to ride a tandem bike, and when she discovered that Merickel and his wife Nancy tandem ride nearly every day, an opportunity arose for her to cross off an item on her bucket list.

Merickel is one of 13 children. Her mother died about a week ago after her fight with Alzheimer’s.

Timm decided to dedicate the ride to Mary Lou and bought three purple balloons to release before the ride.

Purple is the color for Alzheimer’s.

“I have three (balloons), one for her, one for people that have died from Alzheimer’s and one for those that suffer from it,” Timm said.

At 10:30 a.m. Monday, just before taking off for the ride, Timm, Merickel, together with his wife, and Missy Merickel each released a balloon into the air.

“This is really about Alzheimer’s awareness,” Timm said. “And it’s really near and dear to Nancy and Mike and their family.”

“They were big supporters, and a lot of their family also sent me donations.

“Without them, this wouldn’t be possible.”