My name is Ethan Vietze, a junior at Western Kentucky University majoring in chemistry with minors in mathematics and economics. I am serving as the Director of Ride Operations (DRO) for Bike4Alz Team 15. At WKU I am the scholarship chair of Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI), the Campus Improvements and Sustainability chair of the WKU Student Government Association, and an undergraduate chemistry researcher.
I heard about Bike4Alz for the first time my freshman year of college. My roommate joined FIJI who introduced me to the idea and I was immediately taken by storm, I knew that this was something I needed to apply for. I am deeply connected to Alzheimer’s so I applied for the director position.
My connections to Alzheimer’s are my Grandma and my Papaw. My grandmother passed away recently, on November 9th, 2026, after a long battle with Alzheimer's. When I joined the team, she was living and I hoped she would live until I finished the ride, but that wasn't able to happen. My Papaw has just started his memory loss journey, forgetting where his wallet is and other simple mistakes like that. Watching my Grandma’s brain functions decline leading up to her death and my fear to watch my Papaw undergo the same are my main reasons for riding.
With your help, we can make a real impact in finding a cure for this terrible disease. I am excited to connect with other people who have also been affected by Alzheimer’s. My goal is that myself and the rest of Team 15 can give hope to people who have been affected in similar ways and make a difference in the fight against Alzheimer’s.
