Wheaton Community Raises $5,000 For Well-Known Quadra Bike Rider

In a few weeks, Wheaton resident Keith Grogan will have a new way to get around town thanks to contributions from caring community members, many who have watched Grogan pedal his way around town, tooting his horn.

In April, a fundraiser was launched to help buy Grogan a new, specially designed bicycle, which will allow Grogan, who has special needs, to use his good hand and foot. His bike had been fixed repeatedly and was nearing the end of its lifecycle, but replacing it with a new and improved model was going to cost about $5,000.

Doug Jones, owner of Midwest Cyclery was enlisted to help with fundraising efforts. The fundraiser was the idea of Dan DuPree, who attends the same church as Grogan, First Baptist Church of Wheaton, and often helped fix Grogan’s bike, Jones said.

Grogan makes regular visits to Midwest Cyclery, Jones said.

“He normally stops by here to get a little oil or a tire fixed,” he said. “We have helped him out over the years. The church contacted me about getting on board with the fundraiser.”

The bike Grogan was using had been repeatedly fixed and Jones said the fram was about the break all the way through. The bike is Grogan’s main mode of transportation and makes him independent. Otherwise he relies on others to drive him around.

Jones said he had contacted Lightfoot Cycles in Montana last year trying to decide what would be best for Grogan and to find out how much a new Quadra Cycle made specifically for Grogan’s needs would cost. The bike was going to run $5,000. The fundraiser launched in April had raised about $2,000 when a story appeared in the Chicago Tribune recently and pushed fundraising over the edge.

“One thing that struck me was a gentleman was at the door one morning, he was totally deaf and he was holding an article [about the fundraiser],” Jones said. “He wanted to donate. He donated a large amount of money, but he didn’t even know Keith. He was from another town.”

The bike has been ordered for Grogan and should be ready in five or six weeks, Jones said. Additional funds came in and those will be kept to help maintain the bike and add on items that over time may make the ride more comfortable for Grogan.

The response to the fundraiser surprised Jones, who said he was “gratified” to be able to help out.

Read more about Grogan and the fundraiser.