Steve Bietau, a Meadowlark Parkinson’s Program member, is celebrating his 71st birthday this month with Bietau’s Birthday Bike Ride! An avid cyclist, Steve plans to start a week-long, 71-mile ride on his birthday, TODAY, April 23. He’ll pedal several miles daily before finishing his ride at the annual Pig Out for Parkinson’s on Thursday, April 30.

Cycling 71 miles and finishing his ride during Pig Out is a way for Bietau to demonstrate his commitment to exercise and his passion for Meadowlark Parkinson’s Program. He and his wife, Connie, invite you to join them in their desire to improve the lives of persons affected by Parkinson’s disease and similar disorders by making a donation to the program in honor of Steve’s efforts.

Diagnosed in March 2025 with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, an atypical Parkinsonian syndrome, Bietau said regularly riding a three-wheel recumbent trike has enabled him to “fight back.” PSP primarily affects balance, eye movements, and motor control. Bietau, who served as Kansas State University’s tennis coach for 30 years prior to retiring in 2014, said his whole life has revolved around exercise and movement of some kind.

“It’s physically and mentally good for you, and continuing to ride has gotten me excited,” Beitau said.

As Bietau’s birthday bike ride seems to indicate, fighting back isn’t limited to exercise. Both Steve and Connie offered much praise for the Parkinson’s Program, noting the welcoming attitudes of program leaders and members and the amount of quality information they’ve received.

“The program has been so beneficial to both of us … at no cost! We wanted to do something to help sustain the program,” Connie said.

In addition to accepting the Bietaus’ invitation to support Meadowlark Parkinson’s Program with a donation, fellow cyclists are welcome to join Steve for a portion of his birthday bike ride. One such friend, Olga Shaw, plans to ride with Steve as he crosses the finish line at Pig Out on April 30.

Shaw said she met Bietau at a tennis tournament in the Czech Republic while she was still a junior tennis player. She joined the K-State tennis team in 2004 when Bietau was the head coach, and she graduated in 2008. After that, she returned as his assistant coach and worked alongside him until 2013, when she moved away.

Shaw and her family returned to Manhattan a few years ago, and she now is an Assistant Women’s Tennis Coach at K-State and a Tennis Professional at PeakForm Sports and Wellness Center, where she teaches tennis lessons.

She said she was immediately in favor of Bietau celebrating his birthday by pedaling for Parkinson’s. “I still see Steve and Connie pretty often, so it felt like an easy way to support him, Connie, and the entire program,” Shaw said. “Steve has always been committed to doing things the right way, so I am positive this will be a great success.”

She added that it was easy to say yes when the couple asked if she’d like to be a part of Steve’s ride.

“When I was a freshman and had a season-ending injury, he supported me every step of the way. When my mom was sick and I had to leave in the middle of the season, he was there for me. When my husband was deployed to Afghanistan, he showed up again. And it wasn’t just Steve — Connie has been a big part of this, too,” Shaw added. “That’s what family does: you show up for each other. I’ll always be there to support him.”

To join Shaw in supporting Bietau’s efforts and the Parkinson’s Program, there are three ways to do so.

Help Steve fight Parkinson’s! Visit www.meadowlark.org and click the DONATE NOW button. Select Meadowlark Parkinson’s Program as the donation option and type “Steve Bietau” in the tribute field. Or, contribute in person by completing a form available at the Hospitality Desk or at Pig Out for Parkinson’s.

Finish with Steve! Meet Steve at 5:45 p.m. on April 30 in the parking lot by the KSU baseball stadium to ride, run, or walk with Steve to Rockin K’s as he completes his 71-mile birthday ride. If you’d like to join Steve for a portion of his ride prior to April 30, contact him at (785) 317-3179.

Celebrate with Steve! Cheer as Steve and his guests cross the finish line at Rockin K’s at approximately 6 p.m.