Motorcycle Freak Takes his First Ride

This is a sweet story I saw on the AP wire at work. It came from the Record-Eagle in Traverse City.

In this photo taken Oct 14, 2011, Richard Hermel, left, prepares for his first motorcycle ride with the assistance of Bruce Burry, center, and Jerry Orr in Summit City, Mich. (AP Photo/Traverse City Record-Eagle, Lisa Perkins)

Paraplegic takes first motorcycle ride

By LISA PERKINS
lperkins@record-eagle.com
SUMMIT CITY, Mich. (AP) — Richard Hermel considers himself a "motorcycle freak," even though until recently he had never had the opportunity to ride on one.

"I just love motorcycles and have always wanted to be able to ride," said Hermel, 42, a paraplegic since birth.

When Hermel's daughter, Rosie Pringle, mentioned her dad's dream to Bruce Burry, of Williamsburg, Burry — a biker himself — didn't see any reason why he couldn't make that dream come true.

"I just thought this is something that I can do, so why not?" said Burry, who arranged for a friend, Jerry Orr, to give Hermel a ride on the back of his Honda Gold Wing.

"I'm blessed, I couldn't imagine not being able to ride everyday," said Orr, who was more than willing to help Hermel take his first ride.

Accompanied by Burry on his own motorcycle, Orr and Hermel took a back roads color tour from Hermel's Summit City home, through Buckley and back again.

"I think he had a permanent smile on his face. It couldn't have gone any better, so much so that Richard tried to trade his wheelchair for Jerry's bike," Burry said.

While there was no trade to be made, Hermel said he appreciated the generosity of these men whom he had never met but now considers friends.

"This meant so much to me, I enjoyed every minute of it," Hermel said.

With her father's motorcycle dream realized, Pringle says she has another idea in mind.

"He was so very, very excited to do this. The next step is riding a horse," she said.