Asheville Physician Bikes To Peruvian Orphanage

Dr. Laura Ellis

Resource: Asheville Citizen Times

By Susan Reinhardt

Those who meet Asheville surgeon Dr. Laura Ellis know she has glamour and grace.

But she hides a part of herself from most patients, afraid if they knew her “other” side, they might hesitate before undergoing a procedure.

It’s that other side — her passion for riding motorcycles — that has landed Ellis, a renowned vein specialist and anti-aging expert, in the spotlight.

For nine days and more than 1,700 often-grueling miles, Ellis rode a BMW motorcycle throughout the countryside in Peru.

Her destination? A little-known orphanage that desperately needs attention and awareness to help some 200 kids with no families.

The results of the “life-changing” trip have been transformed into a reality-based TV program and will premiere on the Speed TV series “Neale Bayly Rides: Peru,” airing at 9 p.m. June 9.

To celebrate this accomplishment that tested her grit as she weathered some horrendous conditions on the way to her destination, she is hosting a special event with Bayly and the show’s cast 6-9 p.m. Saturday at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Asheville. Trailers and footage from the show will be shown.

Ellis embarked upon the journey Feb. 11-20 and talked with me about this experience and the three hourlong episodes that will soon air.

“I like to race motorcycles,” she said, taking a short break between patients at her Biltmore Park office where she is medical director of medAge, a supervised and comprehensive approach to help patients achieve health through age-management science.

“I’ve kept that a secret from my patients and friends,” she said. “Some people might think it is dangerous or irresponsible.”

One day while riding on a track, the manager introduced her to Bayly, a famous writer, rider, producer and philanthropist.

“Neale wanted to do this TV show to get the word out about the needs of this orphanage,” Ellis said. “The track manager had called me one day and said he knew someone who needed my help.”

Neale, who once lived in Sylva and now resides with his two boys in Charlotte, told Ellis about his desires to bring awareness and funding to this orphanage through a reality TV show. He wanted a series that helped others, not glorified excess and extravagance like most reality programming on television today.

Read more...