Resident Uses Hobby to Stay Healthy

A health diagnosis led Ed Chasteen to find not only a way to stay as healthy as possible, but a favorite hobby and community of supporters.

Ed was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1981. He struggled with the diagnosis for several years, but about six years later, he decided that he needed to get active and started riding a recumbent bicycle for exercise.

“I found a bicycle shop that put it together for me and I’ve been riding ever since,” Ed said. “When the weather is good, I’ll ride for two or three hours at a time. We lived in Liberty for 56 years before moving to the Village and I was and still am part of the Greater Liberty Riders. It’s given me a lot of friends and helped me stay active. We ride anywhere within 25 miles of this area.”

He spent one summer riding his bike across the country. Beginning his journey in Florida, Ed rode to Spokane, Washington, and then down to Anaheim, California. He rode 5,126 miles over 105 days.

“I went by myself and wanted to find goodness in people, so I didn’t bring any money, and along the way, people would provide a drink, or a meal, or a place to stay,” Ed said. “It was a great experience.”

Ed has been a resident at John Knox Village since January 2022. He was a professor for 30 years at William Jewell College in Liberty before retirement.