BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -
It looks like a bicycle you stand on. It's called an ElliptiGO and a Biloxi man said this unique machine has changed is life.
"Well it was designed to emulate running more than actually an elliptical machine and more than cycling. That's what it feels like," said Dr. Tommy Letard.
Letard wanted something to get him outdoors.
"I tried cycling and something usually hurt the next day after cycling. I can take the ElliptiGO for 40 or 50 miles and all I am is tired. Nothing hurts. It's a wonderful feeling," said Dr. Letard.
Now, he swears by the machine.
You can find him riding his ElliptiGO by the beach, or even alongside traffic. He rides it everywhere.
"It's less impact than running, so I can go along a lot faster than runners can," said Dr. Letard.
The ElliptiGO was recently invented in San Francisco, and even though Dr. Letard has never met a fellow ElliptiGOer, he feels it's about to become very popular.
The unfamiliarity of the machine draws attention.
"Ha ha. Well the looks I get. I see people taking pictures from their cars. I have people that get ahead of me, pull into a bay and stop. It's all fun, I love it." he said.
It's more than a man and his machine.
"Yea, I call it Eloise or El for short," said Dr. Letard.
Behind the jokes is a grateful man. Now, he's decided to give back.
"I got an email from an ElliptiGO Company that they're keeping track of the first 100 people to do what they call a century, which for cyclists it's 100 miles in one day," said Dr. Letard.
So far 70 EllitiGOers across the country have completed a century ride.
Next week Dr. Letard said he hopes to make that list. He's going to South Texas to ride his ElliptiGO with cyclists on a century ride. He's doing it for a good cause.
"ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. I've been working in conjunction with team Gleason who is Steve Gleason, a former New Orleans Saints player, who has ALS and with the Texas chapter of ALS. They've been helping me to raise funds," said Dr. Letard.
He said last year he got a scare and thought he had Lou Gehrig's disease.
Fortunately that wasn't the case, but now he doesn't take life for granted. This unique machine is his instrument to help others.
"ALS provides me a lot of motivation when I am trying to train and work hard," said Dr. Letard.
An avid runner, sentenced to life without running, he didn't give up. Now for him, everyday, it's ready, set, EllitiGO.
If you'd like to give to Dr. Letard's cause to help combat Lou Gehrig's disease, click HERE.
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