This past Saturday, hundereds of motorcycles lined up the parking lot of Greensburg Park in Green to ride out for Michael "Big Mike" Kerr, who tragically passed away in 2008 in a motorcycle accident.
The silver lining in that tradgedy was that Big Mike was an organ donor and by his being a donor, he gave life to two other individuals who showed their support for the Kerr family by riding in the event themselves.
Joe Kerr, Mike's father said ever since his son's passing, Legends of Green holds a Memorial Run in his memory.
“We have just gotten in contact with the gentleman who had received his heart and found out he was from New York,” he said.
“It was an honor for him to come out and show his support for the family and for Mike, and to have him here is really something special,” he said.
Over 150 riders came out and rode out to Salem, home of Kent State University's Salem Campus where Mike attended. He was one semester from a degree in landscape design and was looking to start his own business, Big Mike’s Landscaping.
“He was a great guy and my best friend,” said Donnie Boyer, who organized the event.
“He was a big guy at 6’8” and and intimidating, but anyone who knew him, knew he was a big teddy bear, and he got along with everyone.”
“It's only fitting that we come out and ride our bikes in his honor, because he rode and it was one of his favorite things to do.”
This year the Kerr family had Life Banc at the Memorial Run passing out literature about organ donation.
“It's good to have a events like this to get the word out about organ donation,” said Tommy Beadle of North Canton, who received a kidney. His wife, Theresa, a close friend of Jan Kerr’s, said that no matter what, she and her family were going to come out and ride for Big Mike.
“Wouldn't have missed it,” she said. “The doctors said it was a perfect match, and I get choked up talking about it, but I extremely thankful.”
For Bill Wagner, of Long Island, NY, it was a bittersweet time as he brought his own bike from New York to ride in the event.
“It's overwhelming,” he said. “The family is very similar to my own, and for him to give life to people including me, words cannot express the impact of what he did.”
Wagner was on the donor list for six years and was a perfect match after various health problems.
For the Kerr family, it was a time to ride to remember Mike for the kind of person he was and his selfless decision to donate life.
“It was extremely hard on our family, my wife, my daughters, but the fact that when he decided to become an organ donor, and have a part of him that lives on forever is special.” said Joe Kerr, Mike's dad.
“I want to thank everyone who came out and rode for my son, and we want to continue the bike run in his memory every year.”
