RACING AL
Portland, Maine | Film Feature
Documentary
What if a single bike ride could transform the way we see Alzheimer’s? RACING AL is a powerful documentary that follows two parallel journeys—one cycling across the country, and one into the heart of a devastating diagnosis—and shines a light on the need to destigmatize and act.
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$18,915
Goal: $40,000 for production
What if a single bike ride could transform the way we see Alzheimer’s? RACING AL is a powerful documentary that follows two parallel journeys—one cycling across the country, and one into the heart of a devastating diagnosis—and shines a light on the need to destigmatize and act.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Hi, my name is Brent Hardy and thanks for taking the time to view our documentary teaser. This story is largely about the power of the human spirit and how love can pull us through life’s most challenging circumstances. Tracey, the film’s main character (and mother of three) had already endured lifechanging trauma with the loss of her husband to suicide 10 years ago, and surgery for a brain tumor four years ago. Then, at age 53, she was confronted with one of the most dreaded diagnoses: Alzheimer’s Disease.
Tracey's dear friend Koenraad, a Dutchman whom she met while working in Amsterdam in the 90’s, has informed Tracey of an epic cycling trip he is planning. It’s an Alzheimer’s fundraising and awareness-building blitz across America in Tracey’s name, from Portland Oregon to Portland Maine, over 3600 miles in six weeks, to arrive at Tracey’s home on September 21’st, World Alzheimer’s Day. With a breakneck schedule that starts on August 9th, Tracey and her partner Scott decide to help Koenraad, riding along in a support vehicle and using the opportunity to spread awareness. The metaphor between the many challenges Koenraad will face and Tracey’s struggle to hold onto her own memories and sense of self, will emerge as their journey unfolds. Their unshakeable bond and fierce determination will drive the hopeful arc of the story.
We’ll witness the power of human connection when Tracey interacts with others affected by Alzheimer’s at events planned along the route and through awe-inspiring footage of other cause-driven cyclists joining in for various stages of the ride. Aside from telling a transformational story, there is another goal for this film - to break down stigma and educate people about the importance of early diagnosis. Early diagnosis allows those with Alzheimer’s to take advantage of new breakthrough treatments that can significantly slow the progression of the disease, giving those afflicted more time with their loved ones
Throughout her life, Tracey has been an advocate for doing what’s right to help others in need, and this film, in a sense, will be her masterclass in advocacy. The trip starts this August, and we need funding now to pull the needed resources together to produce a documentary worthy of Tracey's spirit. Join Tracey, Scott, and our team as a Founding Member, to bring this moving story to life. While our initial goal for this campaign is $40,000, our stretch goal is $60,000 to help cover all of our production costs. Please help fund this incredibly important project with a tax-deductible contribution today.
With much gratitude and love,
Tracey, Scott, Brent, Mika, Koenraad, and Jaxon
** Racing AL is a fiscally sponsored 501(c)(3) project through our partnership with Film Independent
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Director of Photography
Costs $22,000
Our director of photography will be our only experienced camera-person, so this is an obvious and most crucial wish list item. :)
Camera and Sound gear
Costs $15,000
These are the tools of our trade! We would really like cinematic quality equipment to ensure the highest quality production.
Sprinter-like camper van
Costs $3,000
To support Koenraad as he's cycling, and to carry the rest of us humans and all of our gear, we need a decent sized vehicle.
Share this update!
About This Team
Hardy Boys Productions has a small but mighty team! At it's core, Scott and Brent Hardy are brothers who have an entrepreneurial spirit and who have worked on other joint projects before. Mika has joined as an advisor and co-director/producer after being introduced to Scott and Brent through a tennis friend of Scott's. Mika right away felt like our long-lost sister as we connected closely regarding our desire to tell this story. Read further to learn our bios!
Scott Hardy is a divorced father of two grown daughters, and lives in Saco Maine with his partner, Tracey Collins. Scott has a long career serving people - ranging from outdoor apparel and gear sales and service at L.L. Bean, to running customer support teams at a mid-sized software company, to AmeriCorps Program Manager serving disadvantaged youth in Maine and New Hampshire. Serving others has been the throughline of Scott's career, and now he has the opportunity to serve his largest community to date, those affected by, or to be affected by Alzheimer's disease. And that community just happens to include the love of his life, Tracey. Scott will be serving as a co-producer for this project, working alongside Mika at key phases of the project.
Brent Hardy brings over two decades of storytelling experience to Racing AL, serving as co-director, second camera, and primary editor. Though this marks his feature-length directorial debut, Brent previously edited the 2007 documentary The Outlaws. This project holds profound personal meaning for Brent, not only due to the emotional weight of the subject matter, but because of his close connection to Tracey, the film’s central subject. As the brother of Tracey's partner, Scott, Brent has a personal bond with Tracey and has earned her complete trust, an essential foundation for capturing raw, authentic moments on camera.
Mika Lentz has contributed several award-winning documentaries including Failure is Not an Option for History Channel, Hitler’s Lost Sub for NOVA, To The Moon for NOVA, Pearl Harbor: Legacy of Attack for National Geographic Specials, Fire on the Mountain for History Channel, Pearl Harbor USS Oklahoma: The Final Story for PBS and USS Indianapolis: The Final Chapter for PBS. Mika produced a documentary feature on behaviorally challenged kids and the effects on their communities - The Kids We Lose (2018). Mika is also known for Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street (2023), Wild Crime 2021) and Father Spirit.
Jaxon Gruber is the composer of the score for this documentary. His process is rooted in empathy; sitting at the piano and playing along with the picture until he finds something that feels emotionally true, building on the music from there. Jaxon has a bachelor’s degree in music from Tulane University. Originally he wanted to write jingles for ads, but over the past ten years he's worked on several independent films and shows, which has been a more meaningful path than expected for him. Music runs in his family - his great-grandfather was an arranger and orchestrator for many popular Broadway shows, and his mom was an incredible concert classical pianist. Jaxon lives with his pup Lucy who’s his best pal in the world. Funny enough, she’s also the reason he connected with the Brent, director/editor of this documentary. This collaboration grew out of that moment.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Hi, my name is Brent Hardy and thanks for taking the time to view our documentary teaser. This story is largely about the power of the human spirit and how love can pull us through life’s most challenging circumstances. Tracey, the film’s main character (and mother of three) had already endured lifechanging trauma with the loss of her husband to suicide 10 years ago, and surgery for a brain tumor four years ago. Then, at age 53, she was confronted with one of the most dreaded diagnoses: Alzheimer’s Disease.
Tracey's dear friend Koenraad, a Dutchman whom she met while working in Amsterdam in the 90’s, has informed Tracey of an epic cycling trip he is planning. It’s an Alzheimer’s fundraising and awareness-building blitz across America in Tracey’s name, from Portland Oregon to Portland Maine, over 3600 miles in six weeks, to arrive at Tracey’s home on September 21’st, World Alzheimer’s Day. With a breakneck schedule that starts on August 9th, Tracey and her partner Scott decide to help Koenraad, riding along in a support vehicle and using the opportunity to spread awareness. The metaphor between the many challenges Koenraad will face and Tracey’s struggle to hold onto her own memories and sense of self, will emerge as their journey unfolds. Their unshakeable bond and fierce determination will drive the hopeful arc of the story.
We’ll witness the power of human connection when Tracey interacts with others affected by Alzheimer’s at events planned along the route and through awe-inspiring footage of other cause-driven cyclists joining in for various stages of the ride. Aside from telling a transformational story, there is another goal for this film - to break down stigma and educate people about the importance of early diagnosis. Early diagnosis allows those with Alzheimer’s to take advantage of new breakthrough treatments that can significantly slow the progression of the disease, giving those afflicted more time with their loved ones
Throughout her life, Tracey has been an advocate for doing what’s right to help others in need, and this film, in a sense, will be her masterclass in advocacy. The trip starts this August, and we need funding now to pull the needed resources together to produce a documentary worthy of Tracey's spirit. Join Tracey, Scott, and our team as a Founding Member, to bring this moving story to life. While our initial goal for this campaign is $40,000, our stretch goal is $60,000 to help cover all of our production costs. Please help fund this incredibly important project with a tax-deductible contribution today.
With much gratitude and love,
Tracey, Scott, Brent, Mika, Koenraad, and Jaxon
** Racing AL is a fiscally sponsored 501(c)(3) project through our partnership with Film Independent
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Director of Photography
Costs $22,000
Our director of photography will be our only experienced camera-person, so this is an obvious and most crucial wish list item. :)
Camera and Sound gear
Costs $15,000
These are the tools of our trade! We would really like cinematic quality equipment to ensure the highest quality production.
Sprinter-like camper van
Costs $3,000
To support Koenraad as he's cycling, and to carry the rest of us humans and all of our gear, we need a decent sized vehicle.
Share this update!
About This Team
Hardy Boys Productions has a small but mighty team! At it's core, Scott and Brent Hardy are brothers who have an entrepreneurial spirit and who have worked on other joint projects before. Mika has joined as an advisor and co-director/producer after being introduced to Scott and Brent through a tennis friend of Scott's. Mika right away felt like our long-lost sister as we connected closely regarding our desire to tell this story. Read further to learn our bios!
Scott Hardy is a divorced father of two grown daughters, and lives in Saco Maine with his partner, Tracey Collins. Scott has a long career serving people - ranging from outdoor apparel and gear sales and service at L.L. Bean, to running customer support teams at a mid-sized software company, to AmeriCorps Program Manager serving disadvantaged youth in Maine and New Hampshire. Serving others has been the throughline of Scott's career, and now he has the opportunity to serve his largest community to date, those affected by, or to be affected by Alzheimer's disease. And that community just happens to include the love of his life, Tracey. Scott will be serving as a co-producer for this project, working alongside Mika at key phases of the project.
Brent Hardy brings over two decades of storytelling experience to Racing AL, serving as co-director, second camera, and primary editor. Though this marks his feature-length directorial debut, Brent previously edited the 2007 documentary The Outlaws. This project holds profound personal meaning for Brent, not only due to the emotional weight of the subject matter, but because of his close connection to Tracey, the film’s central subject. As the brother of Tracey's partner, Scott, Brent has a personal bond with Tracey and has earned her complete trust, an essential foundation for capturing raw, authentic moments on camera.
Mika Lentz has contributed several award-winning documentaries including Failure is Not an Option for History Channel, Hitler’s Lost Sub for NOVA, To The Moon for NOVA, Pearl Harbor: Legacy of Attack for National Geographic Specials, Fire on the Mountain for History Channel, Pearl Harbor USS Oklahoma: The Final Story for PBS and USS Indianapolis: The Final Chapter for PBS. Mika produced a documentary feature on behaviorally challenged kids and the effects on their communities - The Kids We Lose (2018). Mika is also known for Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street (2023), Wild Crime 2021) and Father Spirit.
Jaxon Gruber is the composer of the score for this documentary. His process is rooted in empathy; sitting at the piano and playing along with the picture until he finds something that feels emotionally true, building on the music from there. Jaxon has a bachelor’s degree in music from Tulane University. Originally he wanted to write jingles for ads, but over the past ten years he's worked on several independent films and shows, which has been a more meaningful path than expected for him. Music runs in his family - his great-grandfather was an arranger and orchestrator for many popular Broadway shows, and his mom was an incredible concert classical pianist. Jaxon lives with his pup Lucy who’s his best pal in the world. Funny enough, she’s also the reason he connected with the Brent, director/editor of this documentary. This collaboration grew out of that moment.