While Christian Reformed cyclists spent last summer pedalling from one Canadian coast to the other in the Sea to Sea bike tour, Ken Morrow cycled the tour’s 7,125 kilometers (4,400 miles) at his home in Thornhill, Ontario, on a stationary bicycle.
Morrow, 19, got the computerized bike to rebuild his strength after sustaining life-threatening injuries in an in-line skating accident in 2003. The accident left him unable to speak.
Jack Van Meggelen, a member of Willowdale (Ont.) Christian Reformed Church, said that initially Morrow set out to pedal 1,000 kilometers but did the first stretch so quickly that the congregation challenged him to do another 1,000 kilometers. “It grew in bits and pieces. Finally we said, ‘Why don’t you do the whole tour?’ Lo and behold, he did!” said Van Meggelen. Morrow’s effort raised more than $3,000 for Sea to Sea’s fund-raising initiative of developing new churches in Canada. The tour was held in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the CRC in Canada.
Suzanne Morrow, Ken’s sister, said that while he was not able to cycle as fast on his virtual tour as the cyclists on the cross-country ride, he was extremely focused. “We’d have to pry him off the bike. It wasn’t about time,” she said, “it was about reaching the goal. He kept his own steady pace.”
Suzanne said that Willowdale CRC, where Ken recently professed his faith, has been very supportive. “Everyone was following his progress,” said Van Meggelen. When Ken reached his goal, after six-and-a-half months, the church celebrated and presented him with a plaque acknowledging his completion of the tour.
