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| Ed Bradley of Springfield has been on the road since June promoting an important cause. |
Living day-to-day with only the contents he can carry, and often exposed to the elements, he has biked over 4,800 miles — from Maine to Florida and from Florida to Texas.
“I want to show people who struggle with depression you don’t have to be limited by it,” said Bradley, a 53-year-old Jasper, NY native that suffers from clinical depression.
“It’s like any chronic illness. You can seek treatment and do just about anything,” he said.
Bradley, of Springfield, Vt., is a 1975 graduate of Jasper Central School. His mother, Rose Bradley, resides in Jasper. Bradley received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Alfred University and worked as an accountant for about a year before going back to school and becoming a respiratory therapist.
On June 23, he embarked on a road trip from Fort Kent, Maine, to Key West, Fla. By September, Bradley had rode about 2,600 miles and reached Fort Meyers. After staying with some friends, he decided to continue his trek to San Diego.
As of Monday, Bradley was in El Paso, Tx. — getting ready to cross the border of New Mexico.
“I have learned there is a lot of kindness in this country,” said Bradley. “A lot more kind people than you would expect from watching the evening news.”
Biking anywhere from 6-8 hours a day, Bradley has traveled into 15 states and encountered several obstacles — from freezing desert weather to scorching summer heat, insect attacks, extreme fatigue and bustling traffic. He has peddled through the rough, inner city of West Baltimore to the sprawling goatland of Louisiana.
“I really was an average biker at best,” said Bradley. “I did some mountain biking around my house, but that’s it ... Now, I guess you could say I’m an avid rider.”
Bradley, who has battled clinical depression for about five years, said he likely suffered from it when he was a teenager.
“It was around when I was a teenager, but I didn’t recognize it,” he said.
Since seeking the help of doctors and finding the right medication, Bradley believes he has managed to get a handle on his depression and is happy to share his story.
“I’ve learned you can do anything you can put you mind to. I know it’s kind of cliche, but it’s true,” he said.
Bradley said he encourages those inspired by his trip to make a donation to a local mental health organization or to NKM2.org.
Bradley's trip can be followed by going to his 'Cycling through depression' Facebook page.
Article Copyright 2010 by Hornell Evening Tribune, Hornell, NY. Some rights reserved
Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license.
http://www.eveningtribune.com/newsnow/x192072409/Jasper-native-biking-the-U-S-to-bring-awareness-to-depression
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