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Disabled Teen Cycling Across Canada From Home

But it’s even more difficult for one young, courageous man who has greater challenges to deal with than climbing mountains, enduring rain and changing flat tires, and who is still getting on his bicycle every day.

Inspired by his fellow church members cycling in the “Sea to Sea with the CRC” bike tour, 18-year-old Ken Morrow, of Thornhill, Ont., is determined to put in the full distance from Vancouver to Halifax—7,125 kilometres—on a stationary bike at home.

Almost four months into his trek, he’s cycled more than 4,500 kilometres, about 2,500 km shy of his goal—a remarkable accomplishment from someone who, a few months ago was unable to eat solid foods and still today does not have the ability to speak.

Growing up, Ken had always been an active child and teenager until he suffered a near-fatal rollerblading accident two years ago. He was in a coma for 10 weeks and remained in hospital for 15 months following the accident, Aug. 8, 2003.

The prognosis wasn’t good. Doctors gave Ken a 20 percent chance of surviving and even if he overcame those odds, he would have no real quality of life.

Ken’s parents, Jerry and Ellie Morrow, said even the doctors were surprised at his progress.

“He’s already come further than they thought he would by now,” Jerry said.

That’s where the cycling comes in. The “Sea to Sea” bike tour has given a purpose for Ken’s life, his parents said.

Jerry credits much of his son’s improvement to what he calls Ken’s “obsession with cycling.”

“It’s been great therapy for him,” Jerry said, “first thing in the morning he’s on his bike. He wants to cycle every waking hour but of course he can’t because of his energy. He burns off more calories than we can feed into him!”

Using a specially-designed, computerized, stationary bicycle in his home, Ken began his phantom sea to sea cycling odyssey June 1, giving him a three-week head start on the other riders who would leave Vancouver June 25 on their 7,125-km, 10-week bike ride to Halifax.

The tour ended for those cyclists on Sept. 3, but Ken continues toward his goal.

One of his longest sessions on the bike was 307 consecutive minutes for a total of 50 kilometres. Now that he attends school five days a week, he still puts in between 20 and 25 km per day. His parents expect he can reach the 7,125-km target before Christmas.

Not only has the tour been an inspiration to Ken, but Ken’s determination and effort has in turn inspired his church community at Willowdale Christian Reformed Church. Members there have donated to Ken’s ride in support of the “Sea to Sea” tour’s fund-raising campaign to start new churches across Canada. Together, Ken and Luke Meiboom, the church’s representative cyclist on the tour, raised more than $14,000 for the cause.

Ken was also presented with one of the official “Sea to Sea” tour jerseys during a recent church service.

The church continues to follow Ken’s progress and updates his total kilometers in its weekly bulletin available online at www.willowdalecrc.com.

Used with permission from Dave Raakman

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