ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — If you enjoy cycling, this event is for you, and it benefits a great cause.
The American Heart Association's CycleNation comes to Buffalo on Sunday, October 27 at the Buffalo Bills Fieldhouse from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Click Here to register today, form a team or register as an individual rider. Those who register will have a bike reserved for you and have the opportunity to pedal with a purpose in the same location that the Buffalo Bills practice.
The event is being held to help raise awareness and funds for heart disease and stroke in Western New York. Riders are encouraged to find their own pace and take breaks.
It is all about having fun, raising awareness, and raising funds for American Heart Association.
A young stroke survivor Maddy Ferriter will share her story during the ride.
Ferriter was a senior in high school, sitting down to take a midterm when she lost feeling in the left side of her body. At the hospital, it was determined she was having a stroke, caused by a patent foramen ovale, a hole between the right and left chambers.
Ferriter's condition was able to be treated, having surgery at Gates Vascular Institute.
"It was a big relief when I was able to get up and walk. And was able to regain some of that movement, because if I was able to do that in three days, the doctors said that in a month you should be almost completely back to normal," Ferriter said.
Despite initial worries, she was able to play here senior season of softball, go to prom and graduate. Her life returning back to normal.
Ferriter said, "I'm a student at UB, I'm the secretary of the biomedical engineering society there we are going to Baltimore in a few days for a conference. I coach a 12U softball team now and play in the summer."
Now a sophomore at UB, she studies biomedical engineering. She speaks about her experience to raise awareness and share a valuable lesson with others.
Ferriter said, "After that day, I realized you know life changes on a dime. Don't take a day for granted. Those days you spend all day studying in the library, coaching a team or having fun with friends on the weekend. don't take any of that for granted,".
For more information heart health visit American Heart Association at Heart.org.
2 On Your Side is a proud sponsor of CycleNation.