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As an infant, Bill Bogdan underwent surgery, four weeks of radiation therapy, and 18 months of chemotherapy to remove a cancerous spinal tumor. The cancer never reoccurred, but the treatment left him paralyzed from the waist down. From ages seven to ten, Bill used to take the seat off a Big Wheel and put his chest between the handlebars so he could reach the pedals with his hands. But later he grew too big for that, and could not keep up with his friends on bikes. Not until many years later, when he started riding a hand cycle. Since the summer of 1996 Bill, 32, has ridden a semi-custom hand cycle called the Freedom Ryder in all seasons (in the winter he has a stand for the bike that allows him to bike inside). For the last two years, he has ridden the 25-mile L.A.T.E. Ride with his wife, brother, and a group of 10-12 riders.
Bill grew up in South Holland, a suburb about 25 miles south of downtown Chicago. Four years ago he married his wife Laura, a lab technician at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center. In 1999 he became a Disability Liaison for the Illinois Secretary of State's office. He is implementing the new changes to Illinois' accessible parking program, and addressing other issues facing persons with disabilities.
We asked Bill what part of the The L.A.T.E. Ride he liked. He said, "I like the starting portion, especially Roosevelt Road. I like the lakefront bike trial. My favorite part is going on the lakefront path right by the Chicago Yacht Club and down through the Museum Campus. Obviously, I like going through the neighborhoods." It sounds like he likes the whole ride! He says he gets lots of encouragement along the way, lots of thumbs up, and hears lots of onlookers say, "Take a look at that bike!" in Greek Town and along Lincoln Avenue, especially.
Next to bicycling, Bill's favorite activity is scuba diving. He took that up in 1991, becoming a certified diver with the Handicapped Scuba Association (HAS). Last summer, he and his wife helped celebrate HAS's 20th anniversary diving off the coast of Venezuela. They did 17 dives in six days with 25 other divers with disabilities, including two quadriplegics.
Bill says The L.A.T.E. Ride is fun and gives him a sense of accomplishment. "I'd encourage anyone to do The L.A.T.E. Ride," he says. "Most likely you'll get hooked and keep coming back year after year."
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