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Alyce Yout joins “The Bailey Brigade” as Team Alpha-1 rides again in annual Escape to the Cape bike trek

For 40 years as a registered pediatric nurse, Alyce Yout dedicated her life to caring for those who were sick. In 1995, she had to retire because of her breathing problems.

Then in 1999, Alyce found out that she would be the patient; she was diagnosed with Alpha-1 lung disease.
But, this hasn’t stopped her. She has redirected her energy to raising awareness about Alpha-1.

One of the biggest events she has been participating in for years is riding with Team Alpha-1 in the American Lung Association’s “Escape to the Cape” bike trek on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

This year the event takes place from this Friday, Sept. 30 to Sunday, Oct. 2. Yout joins Team Alpha-1 every year, “and I ride as much as I can,” she says.

This year, Team Alpha-1 will be calling itself “The Brailey Brigade” in honor of the late Ed Brailey, who for years after his lung transplant in 2002 led Team Brailey, consisting of firefighters, police officers and friends, at the Escape to the Cape ride. Brailey died Jan. 3 this year.

Yout, who uses oxygen 24 hours a day, rides with her oxygen supply mounted on her bike, as do several other Alphas involved. She always encourages other Alphas to take part, and suggests they bring family and friends. Yout’s niece and her two children plan on joining her in the trek this year.

Participants also include volunteers who help at the rest stops and serve as support to the riders. Riders have the choice between a two-day 105-mile route and a three-day 160-mile route from Plymouth to Provincetown at the northernmost tip of the Cape.

Several riders in this year’s trek are Alphas who have had lung transplants: Mary Pierce, the longtime captain of Team Alpha-1; Len Geiger, Shirley Dennis and Joanne Medley.

Angela McBride, Foundation director of development, will be posting photos from the event on Facebook this weekend.

You can help Team Alpha-1 to reach its $50,000 goal by visiting http://www.firstgiving.com/Alpha-1Foundation/biketrek2011