Grandview man continues his ride for Alzheimer’s

An 80-year-old Iowa man riding his horse to raise awareness and money for Alzheimer's research at the University of Iowa has encountered heat and rain storms, but he's still going strong.

John Riehl, associate editor with the UI Graduate College, said he got a call from Bill Taylor Friday morning. Taylor, of Millersburg, was about 10 miles west of Oskaloosa when he called.

Taylor planned to ride into Knoxville Friday night and stay at the Marion County Fairgrounds and then ride Saturday from Knoxville to Indianola and stay there Saturday night and all day Sunday, his day off, Riehl said.

Taylor is riding his horse along Highway 92 from Grandview to Council Bluffs in his effort to raise money and awareness.

Taylor departed from Grandview Monday morning, and he planned to ride 20 to 26 miles per day, which would allow him to complete his journey in just under two weeks.

Taylor said he will donate money the ride generates to the research laboratory of UI neurology and psychology professor Daniel Tranel, director of the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience and the Benton Neuropsychology Laboratory at the UI.

The more than 200-mile-ride was inspired after Taylor witnessed a number of his friends' battles with Alzheimer's.

More information about the ride and an opportunity to donate to Taylor's cause is available at

http://givetoiowa.org/2011GCWA.