Riding For A Cure Spruce Md Joins The Ride To End Alzheimers at Spruce MD
This July, hundreds of cyclists will clip in and set out on a powerful 257-mile journey from Greenville to Charleston for the Ride to End Alzheimer’s. Among them will be Dr. Mary Brittain Blankenship and Cynthia Boswell, NP, representing Spruce MD as part of the Velo Valets + Spruce MD team.
As both sponsor and participant, Spruce MD is not just supporting Alzheimer’s research—we’re pedaling forward for a healthier future, riding alongside our patients, our community, and our mission.
And this year’s ride carries special meaning.
Why We Ride
Alzheimer’s disease impacts more than 6 million Americans, with that number projected to double by 2050. It’s not only one of the leading causes of death—it’s one of the most emotionally devastating, affecting entire families and support networks.
At Spruce MD, we believe in a preventative and proactive approach to brain health. That means leveraging lifestyle, functional medicine, and integrative tools long before cognitive symptoms emerge. The Ride to End Alzheimer’s is more than a fundraiser—it’s a reflection of what we stand for: science-backed action, community support, and hope.
This year, we’re especially proud to be riding alongside one of our patients—former WYFF4 anchor Geoff Hart—and in memory of a beloved friend and neighbor, Belle Cheney, whose legacy continues to inspire this community through the strength of her husband, Jake.
Geoff Hart: Riding Strong with Early-Onset Alzheimer’s
Geoff was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s in his 50s. From the beginning, he and his wife Sarah have faced the disease with transparency, discipline, and heart.
“Lifestyle, diet, solid sleep and exercise are the disciplines Geoff follows,” Sarah shares.
“Every day is a beautiful day now with Geoff.”
Geoff’s progression has been notably slower than expected—and that’s no accident. Dr. Blankenship credits his consistency in staying active, his commitment to restorative sleep, and his proactive mindset as key factors in maintaining his cognitive resilience.
From Emory neurology consults to a customized care plan through Spruce MD, Geoff’s journey has been shaped by curiosity, discipline, and deep community support.
“I know it’s there. I have it. But I have to keep going,” says Geoff.
“I’m still here. And I am trying to keep being here.”
This will be the fourth year Geoff rides in the event with Team HartStrong—named in his honor. Geoff continues to inspire with his strength and presence. This year, he’ll be riding alongside his physician—a rare and powerful symbol of the kind of care Spruce MD is built around.
The ride itself is demanding—South Carolina heat, long days in the saddle, and real physical effort. But for Geoff, it’s also deeply fulfilling.
“The start. It’s like game day,” Geoff says. “Let’s get going!”
With help from his medical team, volunteers, and his family—like daughter Charlie who preps meals that Katherine Taylor, Registered Dietician at Spruce MD, has planned for each stop—Geoff gets to do what he loves: ride, connect, and push forward.
In Memory of Belle: Living All In
A few wheels ahead, team captain Jake Cheney rides in memory of his wife Belle, who passed away last year from early-onset Alzheimer’s. Belle was vibrant, stylish, creative, and fierce—a senior production manager who toured the world with acts like Metallica and the Beastie Boys, and helped run iconic venues like The Fillmore and Shoreline Amphitheatre in San Francisco.
But her most important work was at home—raising three children with love, laughter, and relentless devotion.
“Belle only knew one way to live — all in, with heart, style, and fearless determination,” Jake says. “She was truly one of a kind. And we miss her more than words can say.”
In her final years, Belle embraced the color pink—and now Jake and our team ride in custom pink jerseys, a visual tribute to her personality, her fight, and her memory.
“If you see a blur of pink out ont he road—that’s Team Belle,” says Jake. “These are for you, Belle.”
The journey wasn’t easy. As Belle’s caregiver, Jake faced the daily uncertainty and exhaustion that comes with dementia—the heartbreak of not knowing what each day might take. But what carried him through, he says, was community.
“People carried us. They helped raise our kids. They treated Belle with dignity. And I’ll never forget that.”
This year, with Spruce MD and Community Tap joining the team, Jake says the sense of meaning and momentum has only grown.
“Last year we had 8 riders. This year, we’ve added 12 more. That tells you everything you need to know about the power of this cause.”
A Shared Road Forward
Geoff’s story and Belle’s legacy may look different—but they meet on this ride. One man riding with Alzheimer’s. Another riding in its wake. Both fueled by the same mission: to fight this disease with everything they’ve got.
Events like the Ride to End ALZ raise critical research dollars, but they also raise something else—hope, connection, and the reminder that no one is in this alone.
“Caregivers are heroes,” Jake adds. “Recognize them. Feed them. Help them. Celebrate them.”
“Support the ride and the riders,” Geoff says. “Because I believe that at some time somebody is going to figure this out.”
At Spruce MD, we are riding to be part of that future. To show what’s possible when medicine looks ahead. And to honor patients like Geoff, who remind us every day that the most powerful thing we can do is just keep going.
Join us. Support the ride. Honor their stories.
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