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Posted: Aug. 15, 2010
Kevin Degen: Disabled
cyclist was an inspiration
as he pedaled for charities
BY JOE ROSSITER
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
If passion, heart and the ability to inspire others
are character traits used to measure success in
life, then Kevin Degen served as a shining
example.
A cycling enthusiast who was handicapped since
birth, Mr. Degen demonstrated a lifelong passion
for the sport while pedaling thousands of miles
each year -- rain or shine -- to help raise money
for charity.
Mr. Degen died suddenly Tuesday. The Lathrup
Village resident was 52.
"He was truly a motivational figure to me and the
many other people he encountered during his
lifetime," his brother Sean Degen said.
He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth,
and doctors held out little hope that he would
lead a normal life. As a means of therapy, his
parents bought him a tricycle and the die was
cast.
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Born in Indianapolis, Mr. Degen was raised in
Birmingham and graduated from Groves High
School in 1978.
During high school, he began riding to raise
money for nonprofit agencies that help people
with disabilities in Michigan.
Over the years, Mr. Degen raised more than
$150,000 for charities, including the Multiple
Sclerosis Society and the Make-A-Wish
Foundation.
"He had such a bright spirit that if you met him,
you couldn't help but fall in love with him," said
Elana Sullivan, president of the Michigan chapter
of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. "He
became an icon on our rides, and people learned
a lot about disability while watching Kevin. At
the end of each ride, he always crossed the finish
line with a huge smile on his face and people
cheering. We can't imagine a ride without him."
Able to use only the left side of his body, he
rode an adapted three-wheeler with all the gears
on the left and the right crankshaft cut off. He
wore special shoes that clipped into the pedal
and let his right foot hang to give him
momentum while pedaling with his left.
Besides his brother, survivors include another
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"His bicycle was his freedom," said his brother.
Unemployed the last couple of years, Mr. Degen
worked for Plante & Moran in Southfield in the
graphics and printing department until 2007.
Previously, he worked in the mailroom for
AlliedSignal Friction Materials in Southfield.
Among his many accomplishments, Mr. Degen
was an Olympic torch bearer for the 1996
Atlanta games and was inducted into the
Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame in 2001.
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brother, Brian; sisters Colleen Goodson and
Maureen Degen, and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation is 2-8 p.m. today with a prayer service
at 7 p.m. at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home, 1368 N.
Crooks, Clawson.
A funeral mass is set for 10 a.m. Monday at Holy
Name Catholic Church, 630 Harmon,
Birmingham. Visitation will precede the mass at
9:30 a.m. Burial will be in White Chapel Cemetery
in Troy.
As a final tribute to Mr. Degen, a bicycle
procession is planned to follow the funeral
procession from the church to the cemetery.
Contact JOE ROSSITER:
313-222-6594
or [email protected]
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