Jake Krohn, a volunteer with PioneerCare in Fergus Falls, was recently honored by LeadingAge Minnesota with the District C Volunteer of the Year Award.
The District Volunteer of the Year Award honors individuals in older adult services whose commitment and dedication enhance the quality of life for seniors and their communities.
Left: PioneerCare Center residents and frequent riders, Dotty and Boots, pose with Jake and Julie Erlandson, PioneerCare’s volunteer coordinator as Jake receives his award.
Krohn, a member of Pedal Fergus Falls, approached PioneerCare in 2018 with a novel idea: to build a partnership with his organization to give bike rides to older adults who could no longer pedal a bike on their own. Krohn had just returned from a trip to the Netherlands where he first piloted a trishaw, a pedal-powered vehicle designed to bring elders on bike rides and let them feel the wind in their hair. After that experience, Krohn was determined to bring the Cycling Without Age program to Fergus Falls.
Cycling Without Age is a movement founded by Ole Kassow in Copenhagen and has grown to become a global movement with over 3,000 volunteer affiliates on each continent.
Krohn noted the challenge older adults may sometimes face with aging, especially after transition from their lifetime home to a new living setting. “This can lead to feelings of loneliness, alienation, and depression,” he said in a previous interview. “Cycling provides a unique perspective and connection to the outside world and can lead to an improved quality of life for the passengers and pilots alike.”
Now, along with Krohn, members of Pedal Fergus Falls serve as a source of volunteers, along with PioneerCare staff and other interested community members. Krohn, Dave Sanderson, resident family members, and other volunteers provided rides up to twice a week for PioneerCare residents during the cycling season of 2023. Morning rides often went as far as two or three miles. Enjoying the ride, time sometimes “got away” from the riders, causing them to be late for lunch – but all agreed it was worth it.
“It is a true joy to see the Cycling Without Age trishaw head out the care center driveway on a ride knowing stories are being shared, prompted by memories of childhood days of bike rides and other outdoor activities,” said Sara Watkins, PioneerCare Center Administrator. “Residents are sharing experiences in our city parks and residential neighborhoods at a slower pace, allowing them to connect with the community around them.”
An unusually warm winter has even led to rides in February. Bundled for the rides, residents reported it was “better than a hot day in July!”
As the Cycling Without Age USA Lead, Krohn is now helping others throughout the US to establish Cycling Without Age affiliates just as he has done in Fergus Falls.
LeadingAge Minnesota honored Krohn and other Volunteers of the Year at its Institute & Expo, the state’s largest and most comprehensive aging services conference. Over 3,000 professionals in all aspects of older adult services attend the annual two-day event in February to learn about new and innovative programs, share best practices, and network with their peers.
About LeadingAge Minnesota:
Driven to transform and enhance the experience of aging, LeadingAge Minnesota is the state’s largest association of organizations serving older adults. Together with more than 65,000 caregivers, our members provide quality care, services, and support to nearly 65,000 older adults in independent living, assisted living, adult day, home care, and skilled nursing.