Nicholas Tremaine is an adventurous, purpose-driven cyclist on a mission to go the distance. He’s cycling more than 40,000 kilometers around Australia to raise funds and ambition for dementia. This personal mission is inspired by his mother, Marilyn, who is still in the fight against this disease today. This is the journey Tremaine started on Bondi Beach, Sydney, at the beginning of the year. So far, he has traveled over 33,000 kilometers and is hoping to finish his quest by December 31.
Marilyn’s condition has significantly impacted her life. The kind of dementia she has is rapidly eroding her ability to communicate or even walk. Her health was deteriorating, so she had to sell the family property south of Parndana on Kangaroo Island. In February, she departed the family home and soon after moved into a care facility up in Kingscote. Tremaine’s focus is motivated by more than his own experience navigating this perilous journey. His mission is to raise $1 million for Dementia Australia, funding crucial research into the causes, treatment and prevention of dementia.
A Family Story of Love and Loss
Before her diagnosis, Marilyn Tremaine was a colorful and socially rich life force, actively engaging in pageantry and civic ceremonies. Her husband, Mervyn Beer, 71, recalls the seismic transformation life has taken since her diagnosis.
“She was the life of our family,” – Mervyn.
Mervyn illustrates the emotional toll of witnessing the progress of Marilyn’s dementia to the reader. He shares how empty he feels without her and the terrible cost that’s taken on their family.
“When one disappears, the other one is lost,” – Mervyn.
He further elaborates on his emotions, stating, “I feel as I am partly lost without Marilyn around.” The bond between the two of them is powerful and incredibly beautiful to witness. Mervyn’s sentiments run deep and are shared by many families touched by this disease.
Nicholas pays tribute to his mother’s colorful life by recounting his own experiences with her involvement in community organizing.
“Mum was a very active member of the community. She was on the show committee, she was an umpire for netball and she always tried to get to my football games as a supporter,” – Nicholas.
This history inspires his determination to finish his ride, with a personal destination in mind.
“If she was able to, I know she would be at the finish line to see me finish,” – Nicholas.
Raising Funds and Awareness
Nicholas Tremaine’s truly epic adventure will have him cycling an average of 110 kilometers a day over the next 365 days. His personal connection to dementia makes him passionate about raising money. He works very hard to seek to raise awareness of this burgeoning health issue in Australia.
Dementia has recently overtaken heart disease as the number one cause of death in Australia. Last year, more than 425,000 people were projected to be living with this disease. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare projects a staggering quadrupling of costs by 2065. A total of 1,074,128 people would be impacted, over 2.5 times today’s numbers. In addition, regional and rural Australians are suffering from dementia at rates even higher than their urban counterparts.
As Tanya Buchanan, CEO of Dementia Australia reminds us, we need to talk about dementia.
“There’s a lot of stigma attached to the diagnosis of dementia, so people don’t tend to talk about it,” – Tanya.
She emphasizes the need for public dialogue on reducing risk and promoting brain health from childhood to advanced age.
Nicholas’s journey is not just about raising money — it’s about challenging these stigmas attached to dementia. He knows the emotional highs and lows that accompany his ride are unusual.
“There’ve been some really good highs, but then there’re often some low lows,” – Nicholas.
The Road Ahead
Nicholas Tremaine continues his journey around Australia. He remains intensely focused on his outcome and the important story behind his purpose. His determination is representative of a larger movement that’s committed to fighting for everyone who’s living with dementia and their care providers.
Research into dementia has great potential and promise. This is why Dr. Ashleigh Smith says it’s vital for researchers to understand the risk factors that contribute to the disease.
“The first phase is to look at the clustering of risk factors for dementia in rural compared to urban participants,” – Dr Ashleigh Smith.
By raising awareness through his ride, Tremaine hopes to push for more support for research initiatives that could lead to breakthroughs in understanding and treating dementia.
