Biking 3000 miles in a year is a recognizable feat, but accomplishing it while being disabled is a remarkable one. Terry Cucci, 59 of Boothbay Harbor, hit the 3000-mile benchmark on Nov. 2 while riding from Gardiner to Belgrade Lakes and back, a distance of 54 miles.
Both the Nov. 2 distance of 54 miles and his yearly total of 3000 miles are a record for Cucci. It took Cucci and biking companion David Pope about four and a half hours to pedal the 54 miles.
What makes the task so remarkable is Cucci suffered a stroke 10 years ago at the age of 49, which left him partially paralyzed on the right side He has no use of his right arm, and limited use of his right leg.
In addition to cycling, Cucci participates in the Maine Handicapped Skiing program at Sunday River, and he swims a mile a couple of times a week at the Boothbay YMCA. “Skiing once a week pretty much got him going again and being active again,” his friend and ski volunteer David Pope said.
Cucci was active before the stroke, biking, cross country skiing and playing ice hockey. He was in excellent shape and had no warning. “He had a complete physical right before the stroke. He didn’t smoke, he didn’t drink and he exercised. He did everything right,” his wife Kathi said.
Cucci developed a headache while on a long bike ride. “He complained of a head ache that didn’t go away and his right side didn’t feel right,” Kathi said. “I wanted to take him to the hospital, but he wouldn’t go. He had the stroke that night. I would urge anyone, if you have any of these symptoms to get yourself to the hospital. It took us completely by surprise. I always thought of strokes happening in older people. We found out a lot about strokes afterwards.”
After the stroke, Cucci was unable to talk and walk. “He was right handed and had to learn to do everything left handed. He had to learn to walk and speak again. He has a lot of determination. The doctors told him what he couldn’t do. He asked what can I do.”
The Cucci’s had adaptive equipment installed in both their vehicles and Cucci learned how to drive using the controls. “He took his driving test and passed. Thank God he was able to drive again,” Kathi said.
Prior to the stroke, Cucci worked in the FCN (flow cytometry lab) and had just taken over the Keller Bloom lab at Bigelow Labs in Boothbay Harbor, where he now volunteers once a week. After his stroke, his friends at Bigelow raised the money to purchase him a special recumbent cycle, and he has been busy logging miles on it for the past six years.
“He does everything with his left hand, steering, braking and shifting, He does most of the work with his left leg, although his right leg does participate some.” Pope said. “He can really crank up the big hills. He moves right along. His bike is low to the ground and on the down hills, zoom he’s gone.”
“Getting out on the road with him is delightful. He knows all these routes, from Portland, to Rockland to Belgrade. He looks for the flat places and the nice places,” Pope said of the scenery.
Cucci started biking early in the spring to reach the 3000 milestone and plans on riding until the snow flies. “That’s what he lives for, that and his wife (Kathi) and his dog (Liam),” Pope added.
The Cucci’s have ridden in a couple of Maine Handicap Skiing summer programs, including one to Peaks Island last summer. Cucci typically pedals 20-25 miles a day, with longer rides of 30-40 miles.
“He’s a great cook and does all the cooking, He takes the dog for a long walk every day, and he mows the lawn. If it is anything he can do, he insists on doing it,” Kathi said.
