Last April, Gregory Maassen embarked on an epic journey: riding an electric bicycle from Washington, DC, to San Francisco. The 54-year-old former executive for an international development agency got the idea for his tour about three years after he was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, a condition caused by damage to the nerves in the hands and feet, resulting in weakness, numbness, and pain.
Maassen's doctor, Ahmet Hoke, MD, PhD, FAAN, professor of neurology and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, is a strong proponent of physical activity to manage the condition. “Several studies show that about 30 minutes of daily exercise and resistance training could slow disease progression and, in some cases, improve nerve regeneration,” he says. The rigorous workout schedule he prescribed for Maassen includes cycling, weight training, and using resistance bands.
As part of his routine, Maassen uses an e-bike, which has an electric motor powered by rechargeable batteries that assists him while he pedals. Riding an e-bike is easier on his body and allows him to go farther and faster with less energy and exertion than on a conventional bike. He eventually started an e-bike group in DC, where he lives with his wife, Janet Katz. He credits e-biking with helping him regain his mental and physical fitness.
Eager to share the benefits of his newfound form of exercise with the peripheral neuropathy community, Maassen thought of doing a solo cross-country trip, which he hoped would be a good way to raise awareness and money. He shared his idea with Dr. Hoke, who agreed. “Neuropathy doesn't kill people, but it can make their lives difficult,” says Dr. Hoke. “For a lot of people there's no obvious external manifestation, which is one of the reasons funding hasn't been great.”
Dr. Hoke connected Maassen with the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy (FPN), which helped broaden the scope of the tour by supporting a documentary of the trip using drones, coordinating local press coverage, and promoting the journey on social media. Maassen and the FPN also created a website where people could track his progress using an interactive map of his route, view video updates, and contribute toward a fundraising goal of $150,000 for research and education.
Over the course of more than 4,500 miles, Maassen followed parts of the historic Lincoln Highway, United States Bicycle Routes 44 and 55, and other regional trails. The trip had its challenges. He had to make weather-related detours and often had to lift his 77-pound bike and gear—food, tent, and camera equipment—over fallen trees and other road and trail blocks.
Twice he flew back to DC for one important reason: to advance his citizenship application. The second time he returned, the Netherlands native participated in an oath ceremony to become a U.S. citizen. He resumed his biking in Omaha, NE, feeling like a new man. “I started this tour as a Dutchman and ended it as an American,” he says.
Getting to know his fellow Americans has been one of the joys of the journey. “Traveling by car is an anonymous undertaking. It's the opposite when you cycle. It's very interactive. You meet so many people, and they all have a story to tell,” says Maassen, who was hosted at various points along the way by families who volunteered through a nonprofit organization called Warm Showers, which provides free shelter for cyclists. He also stayed with a board member of the FPN while in Chicago. Maassen has been amazed by how many people he's met who have peripheral neuropathy. “It's shockingly prevalent,” he says. “We really need more education and awareness about this condition.”
A world traveler, Maassen was awed by the American landscape and its similarities to other places he's been. “From Provo, UT, to Salt Lake City, I had flashbacks of Jordan, where I lived for three years. When I was biking near Walden, CO, I felt I was in South Africa. It looked exactly like Pretoria—minus the zebras and giraffes, of course,” he says. “America is an incredibly beautiful country.”
By all measures, Maassen's trip, which ended in early August, was a success. It generated a lot of local press, which helped increase awareness of peripheral neuropathy, and it surpassed its fundraising goal. (As of press time, supporters had donated almost $180,000.)
After a vacation in Maine for a well-earned rest, Maassen returned to DC, where he's pursuing a master's degree in documentary filmmaking at American University. He's also started writing a guidebook detailing his cross-country e-bike route. Most importantly, he continues to advocate on behalf of those with peripheral neuropathy—educating the public and helping raise research dollars.
