By the time Jacob Landis was 10 years old, he had grown totally deaf. A cochlear implant allowed him to be fully functional in the hearing world.
Today, he is bicycling across the country to raise awareness about the benefits of cochlear implants for the deaf and hard of hearing and raising money for people who need a cochlear implant but cannot afford it.
He will make a stop for a reception at Garden Spot Village on Thursday, July 16, at 1:30 p.m.
“We invite the public to meet and greet this selfless young man who is doing so much so that others can enjoy the gift of hearing,” said Colleen Musselman, director of life enrichment at Garden Spot Village.
A cochlear implant is a small electronic device that delivers electrical impulses to the auditory nerve and allows the wearer to receive and interpret sound through an externally worn processor. Many insurance companies do not cover this life-changing surgery, which enables deaf or severely hearing-impaired children to acquire speech and function in the auditory world. For adults who have lost most or all of their hearing, cochlear implants can allow individuals to continue working and participating fully in the activities of life.
Landis, who lives in Annapolis, Md., and whose grandparents live at Garden Spot Village, had cochlear implant surgery in 1999. In April 2013, he began his first 11,000-mile bicycle journey around the nation to help the hearing-impaired, with stops at all 30 major league baseball stadiums. Less than two days and 200 miles from his finish line, a hit-and-run accident left him in the hospital. In May 2014, after recuperating from his injuries, he completed his first ride. Since then, Landis has raised more than $100,000 to pay for cochlear implants for those who cannot cover the cost.
On May 26, 2015, Landis began another coast-to-coast journey, pushing off from the Pacific shoreline in Ventura, Calif., and pedaling through Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Omaha, Kansas City, St. Louis and Milwaukee. He is scheduled to end the ride in Ocean City, Md., on July 19.
After his appearance at Garden Spot Village, Landis will appear at the FirstEnergy Stadium. Jacob’s Ride has reserved a block of tickets for the Reading Fightins game against New Britain at 7:05 p.m. For tickets to Hearing Loss Night at the Ballpark, visit jacobsride.org/buy-tickets.
Proceeds from Jacob’s Ride 2015 will be awarded to The Gift of Hearing Foundation.
Garden Spot Village, is located at 433 S. Kinzer Ave., New Holland. For more information, call 717-355-6000.