Terminally ill veteran’s wish for one final bike ride comes true

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — With a thumbs up and a big smile, Michael Rickert enjoyed a ride through Rock Cut State Park on a beautiful afternoon.

This was an extra special ride for the Army veteran because he is a hospice patient and this was something he told his counselor he would love to do.

“And I said, Take a ride in a sidecar would be my last, last wish, you know,” said Rickert.

In just a few days, Rickert got a call telling him the ride was all set.

“I go, all right! I said, that’s cool. You know, I’m down for this,” said Rickert.

Tom Dean, who had never met the veteran, volunteered to give him a ride on his 1969 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Motorcycle.

“He was pretty excited when I talked to him last night about it,” said Dean. “I said, ‘Well come on over early. Maybe we’ll go for two.’ He said, ‘Nah, we’re gonna wait.’ I said ok.”

The ride was set up through the Northern Illinois Hospice Foundation’s Wish Program with the help of Kegel’s Harley Davidson. Organizers said they can always count on the community to step up to help the non-profit.

“There’s never been a time in my tenure with Northern Illinois Hospice that I haven’t reached out or a board member of mine hasn’t reached out that the answer hasn’t been, ‘Yes, how can we help that patient,” said Director of the Northern Illinois Hospice Foundation Susan Lundin.

In a show of support and camaraderie, several other motorcycle enthusiasts joined in on the Rock Cut ride.

“Man, all these guys… A lot of love. Biker love,” said Rickert.

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