Cyclist built foundation to support cerebral palsy research
Peter Zeidner endured many obstacles in life but chose to use his favorite activity of bicycling to raise money on behalf of others facing similarchallenges.
Zeidner, 60, of Kent, died quietly on Friday with his family and friends surrounding him.
He was born with cerebral palsy, whichhampered his ability to walk. Riding his recumbent bicycle gave Zeidner a measure of freedom.
Using his marketing degree from Kent State, Zeidner launched the Pedal With Pete Foundation more than 30 years ago. The signature fundraising event was what became Pete Zeidner, 38, of Kent, got his recumbent bike in 1989 and rode in the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure in 1997. Zeidner, who has cerebral palsy,began his own ride, Pedal With Pete, to raise money for cerebral palsy research.
knownas Pedal-with-pete, an annual bicycle ride.
Hilliard has hosted the Columbus-area event for years. Annual rides were also held in his hometown of Kent and in Emmetsburg, Iowa.
Over the years, Zeidner raised more than $1.2 million for cerebral palsy research.
Zeidner’s biking days ended in 1999 on a hill near Mansfield while he was participating in the annual Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure. He swung wide to avoid a parked car, lost control and wiped out in a ditch. Two fractured vertebrae resulted in paralysis and meant he could no longer live on his own.
But it didn’t stop Zeidner. He scootedaround his hometown of Kent in his electric wheelchair, according to his obituary, and his work with the foundation never stopped.
“He’s got a tremendous amount of grit,” Chris Zeidner, Pete’s brother, told The Dispatch in a 2015 interview.
“The Pedal with Pete family joins in sorrow at his passing, but also in celebration for his well-lived life and his incredible legacy of $1.2 million raisedfor cerebral palsy research,” an email from the foundation states.
A memorial service is planned for a later date. Donations in his memory can be made to the Pedal with Pete Foundation through their website at pedalwithpete.org