The Spirit of Saginaw
By: Brian Sheridan
Field Neurosciences Institute

Imagine over 200 cyclists of all ages and abilities, wearing the most creatively colorful cycling jerseys, with the frames and wheels of their bicycles, tricycles, and hand cycles sparkling in the sunlight of an early September day. Picture Tony Filippis, Sr. along with world champion cyclists Greg LeMond and Kevin Degen at the forefront of this massive cycling assemblage, holding a small blow horn and arguing (of course) that someone else should have the honor of sounding the starting horn. This was the opening scene of the 1st Annual Greg LeMond Spirit Challenge, an "all-abilities" bike tour and adaptive sports expo, held in Saginaw, Michigan.

Hundreds of people gathered at Saginaw Valley State University to participate in the day's festivities, which included a very unique adaptive sports expo. Demonstrations of numerous sporting and recreational activities were showcased, including wheelchair tennis, adaptive shooting, archery and golf. Drag racing cars, powered parachutes, rowing sculls and kayaks filled the expo center as symbols that begged the question, "What can't people with physical disabilities do?" As the cyclists returned from tours ranging between 10 to 40 miles, they formed what seemed to be an endless line awaiting a signature or photograph from the honored guests, Kevin Degen and Greg LeMond.

As the day dwindled to an end, spectators gathered in the gymnasium of S.V.S.U.'s Ryder Center to watch the Michigan Thunderbirds compete in what turned out to be a very entertaining and rather amusing wheelchair basketball game against local celebrities and community leaders. Greg LeMond and Tony Sr. presented Kevin Degen with the "Spirit of Achievement Award" before the opening tip and LeMond surprised Degen with a special yellow jersey from the Tour De France. Degen graciously accepted the award as he thanked LeMond and Tony Sr. for their diligent efforts and steadfast commitment to promoting adaptive sports and recreation.

In all, the day went off without a hitch and provided a glimpse of what future Greg LeMond Spirit Tours will offer. Mid-Michigan sounded its first wake-up call to people with disabilities and the general public alike, demonstrating that there are lots of things you can do to stay active and healthy regardless of disability. Saint Mary's, Wright & Filippis and the Field Neurosciences Institute plan to hold another Spirit Tour in 2003 and, as Greg LeMond said, "make next year's Spirit Tour twice as large and exciting" as this year's.