Vero Beach, Florida — Riding a bicycle is typically an excellent way to stay in shape, but for one local bank president, past charity rides have playfully resulted in the opposite effect. Bill Penney, the president of Marine Bank on the barrier island, is gearing up for an impressive physical feat to celebrate a milestone birthday while giving back to the Treasure Coast community.
On Friday, May 22, Penney will embark on his 70 Forever Young Tour, a grueling 70-mile bicycle ride to mark his 70th birthday. While the ride itself is a tremendous display of endurance, Penney has one lighthearted request for the staff and customers who will be cheering him on along the route.
“Please go easy on the cake!” Penney requested, recalling his 68th birthday ride where he stopped at various bank branches and was fed so much celebratory cake by well-wishers that he believes he actually gained weight despite riding over 68 miles.
The primary goal of the 70 Forever Young Tour is to raise crucial funds for the local Center for Memory and Movement, an organization dedicated to finding cures for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease. Penney has set a baseline fundraising goal of $16,000, matching his total from two years ago, though he noted it would be incredible if community support pushed the final tally to $20,000.
The Route and Logistics
A 70-mile ride requires strategic planning, especially when navigating Florida’s coastal winds. Penney, who rides a human-powered, Swiss-made BMC carbon fiber bicycle equipped with disc brakes—and no electronic assist—plans to make a game-day decision regarding his exact route based on the prevailing weather.
If the region experiences typical southerly winds, his planned itinerary will include:
- Starting at the Marine Bank branch in Fort Pierce.
- Pedaling north past the bank’s Vero Beach locations.
- Riding along the safer, cyclist-friendly State Road A1A, purposely avoiding the treacherous U.S. 1 corridor.
- Crossing the Indian River Lagoon via a friend’s boat to visit the Sebastian branch.
- Re-crossing the lagoon to continue north along A1A, eventually finishing at the Melbourne branch.
A History of Giving Back
Penney is no stranger to athletic fundraising challenges. Over the past 20 years, he has consistently marked milestone birthdays with extreme physical tests for local charities:
- Age 50: Rollerbladed 50 miles, raising over $8,000 for the local United Way.
- Age 55: Rollerbladed 55 miles to benefit the local Red Cross.
- Age 65: Transitioned from rollerblades to a bicycle for a 65-mile ride, raising $15,000 in sponsorships for the Center for Memory and Movement, where he was serving as chairman at the time.
- Age 68: Biked 68 miles to support the new Brevard Zoo aquarium project in Port Canaveral.
To prepare for his upcoming 70-mile journey, Penney has been rigorously training, systematically increasing his weekend mileage from 40 miles in early May up to 60 miles leading into the event.
This year’s charity ride also marks his first birthday event since Marine Bank officially merged with the Michigan-based ELGA Credit Union in March. Now operating as Marine Bank, a division of ELGA Credit Union, the corporate team is fully behind his mission. While Penney tackles the 70 Forever Young Tour, his staff will be handling business as usual, tracking his progress as he pedals across the coast for a great cause.
