Ray Spooner

Ray Spooner, Who Cycled Cross Country After ALS Diagnosis, Dies

An Urbana man who set out to cycle across the country last year after being diagnosed with ALS has died. Ray Spooner was injured on that ride, but was determined to finish. Last November, he dipped the front wheel of his bicycle into the Atlantic Ocean and crossed one more item off his bucket list.

A black tee shirt reading Ride for Ray.
Brian Moline/Illinois Public Media

Ray Spooner’s “Little Ride” Continues To Grow; Benefit On Sunday

In October, we told you the story of Ray Spooner, the Urbana man with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, who was embarking on a bike ride across the country to raise money and awareness for ALS research.  Ray is back home after finishing his ride, though it was anything but smooth.  As Illinois Public Media’s Brian Moline learned this week, Ray’s “little ride” has turned into something much bigger.

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