On the sunshine filled morning of August 7, 2021, over 400 people participated in the First Annual Dr. Wrasse Memorial Bike 4 Fitness in honor of Bloomington pediatrician Dr. John Wrasse. Dr. Wrasse passed suddenly of previously unknown heart disease on February 13, 2021.
Dr. Wrasse’s friends and family organized Bike 4 Fitness to promote heart health awareness and to realize Dr. Wrasse’s dream of a community event to promote family fitness and bike safety, benefiting Riley Kids Fund – Bloomington.
This year’s inaugural event featured a two-mile loop around Bloomington’s Switchyard Park. Plans are to expand the Bike 4 Fitness to offer longer routes in future years. This year’s event raised over $16,000 for Riley Kids Fund – Bloomington. Music was provided by Dr. Wrasse’s daughter Anna Wrasse. Cheerleaders from Jackson Creek Middle School, Tri North Middle School, and Bloomington High School North cheered cyclists and walkers of all ages along the route.
Dr. Wrasse’s lifelong friend Todd Long, who traveled from Nebraska to lead the ride, commented that Dr. Wrasse would have been elated to see so many people out enjoying the beautiful day, being active together. Along with his clinical work as a pediatrician, Dr. Wrasse loved teaching IU medical students and advocated on behalf of those coming to the field a little later in life, as he did. In addition to the Bike 4 Fitness, Dr. Wrasse’s friends and family have established a memorial scholarship in his honor. Contributions are gratefully accepted to endow the John D. Wrasse Memorial Scholarship which will benefit IU medical students pursuing their degree after some life experience. For more information on the scholarship and future Bike 4 Fitness events please visit bike4fitness.com.
