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Deeply affected by his late grandmother's Alzheimer's disease, Turkish expatriate Semih Gurbuz set off from Amsterdam on his bicycle, crossing seven countries in 46 days to reach Istanbul.
Pedaling over 3,000 kilometers (1864.114 miles) to draw attention to Alzheimer's disease, Gurbuz stated that donations collected throughout the journey will be transferred to brain research.
After completing his 46-day, seven-country bicycle journey from Amsterdam to Istanbul for Alzheimer's awareness, the cyclist stated that cycling is an important part of his life, as he is a 34-year-old born and raised in Amsterdam and works as a banker.
Expressing that his late grandmother had Alzheimer's and that he was deeply affected by it, Gurbuz noted: "Unfortunately, during the illness process, we did not have much information about how to act or what to look out for."
Gurbuz noted that they eventually acquired information about the disease over time, but it was late, adding that society needs to be made more aware of how to approach Alzheimer's patients.
Sharing that his journey lasted 46 days, his bicycle was not electric, and the weight of the bike with bags occasionally reached 40 to 50 kilograms, Semih said, "I left behind more than 3,000 kilometers on this journey, covering a total of seven countries."
Expressing that he wanted to build a symbolic bridge between the Netherlands, where he was born and raised, and Türkiye, Gurbuz explained that he faced various challenges in different countries along the way.
He stated that road conditions were quite challenging in some areas, noting that he had to push his bike forward in steep and mountainous terrain.
Explaining that some routes lacked bicycle lanes, forcing him to use motor vehicle roads from time to time, Gurbuz mentioned moments where stray dogs chased him and where he moved through completely desolate roads in some regions.
Explaining that he reached Türkiye on the 42nd day of his journey, Gurbuz said, "When I saw the Turkish flag, I couldn't hold back my tears of joy."
He stated that he felt a great sense of relief after entering Türkiye, noting that local shopkeepers and citizens supported him along the way and that the hospitality of the people deeply touched him.
Expressing great happiness over a surprise welcome by his fiancée and family in Istanbul, Gurbuz shared that the moral support he received played a major role in helping him complete the journey.
Sharing that he never thought of giving up during the journey, Gürbüz noted that the main reason for this was the memory of his grandmother.
He explained that during his journey, which coincided with the Eid al-Adha period, he thought of his grandmother frequently and did not abandon his goal because he knew the significance of Alzheimer's disease.
Gurbuz pointed out that Alzheimer's disease is spreading rapidly worldwide and that there is still no definitive cure for it.
Emphasizing the necessity of adopting an active lifestyle, Gurbuz evaluated, "Let's move more starting from a young age. Cycling is a good example, but it's not just cycling; let's go for walks in the evening, read more books, eat more diverse foods, and do sports. We need to train our brain as well. Not just our body."
Drawing attention to the importance of sports for the brain, he said, "Sports are not just for building muscle. Sports are also important for brain training. Let's not forget our brain. Let's take care of our brain too."
Explaining that he established an official donation system with the Alzheimer Nederland Foundation in the Netherlands before his journey, Gürbüz noted that all donations made along the route will be transferred to brain research.
"I covered every single meter with my bicycle just to reach Istanbul," Semih said, adding that the journey was an unforgettable experience for him both physically and spiritually.
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