Drake Van de Castle, a longtime Crozet resident and REALTOR® with Sloan Manis Real Estate Partners, is embarking on a month-long journey in July combining some of his biggest passions: bicycling, photography, and helping seniors age in place. Beginning Tuesday, July 1 in Chincoteague, VA and ending Thursday, July 31 in Bristol, VA, the Bike for Seniors campaign seeks to raise a total of $10,000 from private donations as well as heighten awareness from fellow REALTOR® associations and housing nonprofits along the way.

“The real estate community has rallied behind Seniors Safe at Home from the start in the spring of 2012, and Drake has been among our most active volunteers,” John Ince, CAAR president and associate broker at Nest Realty Group, said. “We are so proud to see him engage with a statewide audience to spread the local successes.”

Van de Castle’s route covers more than 1,000 miles and makes more than 15 stops in various locations across Virginia. He will meet with leaders and members of REALTOR® and building associations to share background on the local partnership between Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS®, AHIP and Blue Ridge Home Builders Association with the hopes that other collaborations will form to help keep their senior community safe in their homes.

“Drake brings a wonderful energy to our mission of helping seniors stay safe, healthy and comfortable in their homes for as long as possible. It is inspiring that he is taking our program on the road and planting seeds in other communities,” Jennifer Jacobs, AHIP executive director, said. “We are excited to track his progress and cheer him on.”

Van de Castle’s fundraising effort comes on the heels of the third Seniors Safe at Home effort which has raised nearly $40,000 so far in 2014 to benefit more senior neighbors who have nowhere else to turn when the burden of fixing a leaky roof or performing energy upgrades comes down to the choice of staying or leaving their homes. The impact of this continued community partnership has been amazing. After the first year of the partnership, AHIP increased the number of seniors it was able to help from 47 in 2012 to 95 in 2013.

Seniors Safe at Home focuses on home repairs for people 62 and older. Typical repairs include: leaking or failed roofs, broken or failed furnaces, broken and unsecure windows and doors, loose railings and dangerous steps, structural and electrical hazards, plumbing deficiencies and failures, well and well pump emergencies, septic and sump pump emergencies, gutter repair, handicap modifications and more. Costs of these repairs range from $100 to $6,000, and average $2,000.

Known for his spectacular photo imagery, Van de Castle will be documenting the bike trip with his camera and the proceeds from his photographs will be donated. His goal for this Fundrazr campaign is to raise $5,000 to be donated to five collaborations in the form of $1,000 grants to jumpstart their own programs benefiting seniors around the state.

Track Van de Castle’s progress www.bikeforseniors.com.