Good Samaritan's Blessing of the Bicycles

A leader in the healthcare services industry, Andy Leeka is the president of Angle Health, a medical insurance provider based in San Francisco. He is also an avid cyclist with experience in both road cycling and mountain biking; his longest cycling adventure spanned 10 years, where he made his way from California to Maine in 12 stages interspersed between work commitments. Andy Leeka’s passion for bicycling and work in healthcare coincided while he was president and CEO of Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, which has hosted a Blessing of the Bicycles since 2003.

Held in towns across the nation since 1999, the Blessing of the Bicycles is a ritual that raises awareness and appreciation for bicyclists and their well-being. It originally involved local religious leaders reading biblical passages, performing prayers and sprinkling holy water on bicycles and riders to wish them safety. Over the years, however, it has expanded to include prayers and blessings from multiple religions, cultures and languages.

In cosmopolitan Los Angeles, for instance, previous events have had speakers present in Spanish, English, and Korean. Cyclists, young tricyclists, and non-cyclists have congregated at the Good Samaritan venue to remember those of them injured in road accidents, to discuss ways to promote safety, and to generally appreciate their common love of the two-wheeler, and the sense of community that comes with wishing well for one’s neighbor. During the hospital’s past Blessings, the event has also recognized groups who use bicycles to promote community welfare, such as the mobile medics unit of the Los Angeles Fire Department, or the Metropolitan Transport Authority’s projects to make the city streets more biker-friendly.

Training For a Cross-Country Bike Trip

Experienced CEO Andy Leeka leads the COVID-19 Medical Relief Center in Los Angeles, California. Dedicated to his work in healthcare, he was awarded the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles Bishop's Award in 2018. Outside of work, Andy Leeka enjoys riding his bike, and he completed over 4,600 miles in a ride from Santa Monica, California, to Bar Harbor, Maine, that was broken up into 12 segments over the course of 10 years.

Completing a long cross-country trip on a bike takes a lot of time and training. It can be a challenging adventure, even to the best riders out there. Before starting such a journey, ride and get to know your bike so that you don’t experience unnecessary hiccups on the road. You can even train and test your physical endurance by taking a spin class. Although a spin class is different from a road ride, it works the same muscles and can enhance your mental endurance.

If you’re going to make a cross-country bike trip, you need to be familiar with many types of terrain. Not all of your time will necessarily be spent on a smoothly paved road. In fact, you may want to practice on other types of terrain by off-roading.

HC Completes Cross-Country Bicycle Trip

A hospital administrator with more than 25 years of executive experience, Andy Leeka served as the chief executive director of the Medical Relief Center built in the Los Angeles Convention Center in the spring of 2020 to absorb some of the overflow of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. He currently serves as the president of Angle Health, a medical insurance startup headquartered in San Francisco. Away from his professional responsibilities, Andy Leeka enjoys skiing, surfing, and bicycling.

While the idea of a cross-country bicycle trip sounds exciting, practical considerations make the trek virtually impossible for most adults. The most obvious obstacle is time. Most people young enough to bicycle across the country can’t get enough time off work to make the trip. Andy Leeka figured out how to do it, however.

With his sights set on Cadillac Mountain in Maine, Mr. Leeka started in late November 2011 from his home in California and rode a total of 409 miles in five days, ending in Las Vegas, where he put his bike into storage and took a flight back home. He returned to Las Vegas in December 2012, got his bike out of storage, and rode 167 miles in two days to St. George, Utah, where he again stored his bike. The third leg of the trip came in April 2013, when he biked 486 miles over six days, ending in Dolores, Colorado.

In this manner, he continued his trip, sometimes storing the bike for just a few months and other times storing it for a year or longer. Some legs of the trip were just a couple of days, while the longest took nine days and covered 641 miles. On the final day of the 12th leg, October 6, 2020, Mr. Leeka rode from Bar Harbor to the top of Cadillac Mountain in Maine, 16.58 miles. Overall, his trip covered 4,604 miles in 68 days in 12 legs spanning nearly 9 years.

Angle Health to Offer All-Digital

Andy Leeka earned bachelor’s degrees in biology and psychology, a master’s degree in organizational management, an MBA, and a master’s degree in public health and health services management. He entered the healthcare industry and quickly rose to top administrative positions. Currently, Andy Leeka serves as the president of Angle Health, a technology-focused medical insurance company.

Angle Health is a startup whose initial focus will be on helping other startups provide their employees with relevant and affordable healthcare benefits. Established in 2019, Angle Health offerings will be ACA-compliant and include all federal- and state-mandated coverage. Additional benefits will include integrated pediatric dental and vision coverage, with optional coverage for adults.

The company anticipates significant savings from a mobile app that will provide members with comprehensive digital access to all elements of their coverage, including telemedicine, prescriptions, and a spending tracker, while reducing administrative overhead costs. The same system will interface with clients’ HR departments to ensure rapid digital enrollment and all-digital invoicing. Further information on Angle Health is available at www.AngleHealth.com.