North Carolina Member Turned Love of Biking Into Support for Arthritis Foundation

Riding a bike hundreds of miles might seem exhausting to some people. To Joel Young, it’s exciting.

More than 10 years ago, the biking enthusiast decided to turn his hobby into a career. He started his own business, Carolina Multisports, where he coaches people training for triathlons.

One thing the longtime WoodmenLife member and former Sales Representative carried with him into his new role was a passion for giving back and helping in his community. This mindset led Young to become actively involved with the Arthritis Foundation.

Getting the Wheels Turning

“I had a client approach me saying, ‘Can you help me train for this 500-mile bike ride that I’m doing in California?’ As I got to studying it, I realized I really wanted to do it, too,” he said. “It seemed like a crazy thing to do — ride your bike from San Francisco to Los Angeles over eight days.”

Young ended up on the Arthritis Foundation’s annual California Coast Classic bike tour in 2023. Though he initially joined to support the cause and enjoy the scenic route, Young quickly fell in love with the bike tour and became involved with the foundation.

The second year, Young was inspired by a keynote speaker for the bike tour who said: “Do it for those who can’t and lead the way for those who can.”

“That was the very moment I realized, ‘I can do that,’” he said.

Gaining Momentum

The Arthritis Foundation approached Young about starting up an East Coast version of the California Coast Classic in 2025. Young was from North Carolina, so he took the opportunity to become part of the leadership committee that developed the event.

The Carolina Hills Classic begins in the Blue Ridge Mountains, spanning 250 miles from Asheville, NC, to Greenville, SC, over the course of four days.

Young said while the bike tour is not necessarily an easy feat, it is very accessible to its riders, several of whom have arthritis.

“We’ve designed the event to be inclusive for all who want to participate,” he said. “We are e-bike friendly, and we provide professional support along the way. If anybody needs a little help to get up a hill, they can rely on that support. If there’s a particular day you want to cut it short, that’s not a problem.”

Young said the tour is designed that way to spread awareness of the disease that affects 1 in 4 Americans.

“We’re riding for those with arthritis — they can’t turn off their symptoms or their pain,” he said. “When the weather gets tough or the hills get tough, we don’t quit peddling.

“We always remember who we’re riding for. It’s a small way in which this event aligns with the daily lives of those with arthritis.”

Help Climbing the Hill

One crucial part of the bike tour is fundraising. Each rider must raise a minimum of $4,000 to participate.

Young had first received donations from WoodmenLife for the California tour. Then, after heading the Carolina Hills Classic, he reached out to several chapters in North Carolina and South Carolina to support the cause.

“I explored the possibility of WoodmenLife being a big supporter,” he said. “I went to chapters where the route would go, attended meetings, and gave a presentation on the tour.”

Sydney Koker, Community Outreach Advisor for the North Carolina West region, said WoodmenLife chapters donated more than $17,000 to support the Arthritis Foundation and the bike tour.

“Since the Carolina Hills Classic starts in our region, many of our chapters felt a deep connection to supporting a local member and his mission,” she said. “It gave our members an opportunity to rally behind someone who is making a real difference while raising awareness for a cause that impacts so many people.”

Koker said she was happy to garner support for the Arthritis Foundation on behalf of Young.

“Working with Joel was educational — not only for me, but for our chapters, as well,” she said. “The statistics and information he shared about arthritis were very eye-opening for our members. Many people don’t realize how common arthritis is or the impact it can have on daily life. Joel helped bring that awareness to the communities he spoke with.”

The Long Ride Ahead

Young said he hopes to continue spreading awareness, gathering support, and cycling alongside his fellow biking enthusiasts to make a difference in his region.

“When I first started, I didn’t have a deep connection to the cause, I just enjoyed cycling,” he said. “As I did multiple tours in California and developing this in Carolina, I learned a lot about arthritis.

“More than 60 million Americans have a diagnosed form of arthritis. That is someone in your family, your neighbor, someone you work with — you know someone with arthritis. If I can pay it forward and help those in my family and, of course, those around the country and world that currently have or will have arthritis, then I need to do it while I can.”

Written by: Cheyenne Alexis, Communications Strategist

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