A man I I knew and admired from my time with the Roanoke Valley Harley Owners Group (RVHOG) died tragically Sunday morning when his Harley Tri-Glide rammed a Range Rover on U.S. 221 near the two-tenths south of King Store Road while en route to a breakfast motorcycle breakfast in Floyd.
Although hobbled by MS, 69-year-old Kenny Whiteside enjoyed his life and was a founding board member of the Multiple Sclerosis Alliance for Virginia.
“We are broken hearted, but we also know Kenny died doing what he loved—riding his bike. Yesterday, we welcomed the riders from Bike the US for MS at our MS Center in Salem for a layover weekend. The riders completed multiple community service jobs, visited our center for a cookout, and Kenny shared his story—speaking with everyone, sharing and signing copies of his book, and enjoying the day with the kind of spirit he was known for. of Virginia,” the MS Alliance posted on Facebook Sunday. “Susan, Kenny’s longtime girlfriend, shared that he was so happy last night—more than he had been in a very long time. Kenny told me he was excited to be riding his bike to Floyd for breakfast today. So while the pain is immense, we take comfort in knowing Kenny left this world happy and with dignity.”
A State Police said Kenny appeared to have crossed the center line on 221, sideswiping a Chevy Cruze before hitting the Range Rover head-on. His three-wheel Harley Tri-Glide, was modified with hand controls and space for a wheel chair and crutches.
Kenny often rode a modified recumbent bicycle in parades and MS events, smiling and waving. He was a hell of a man and an inspiration for someone like me, unable to ride by Harley Super Glide because of heart disease, vascular restrictions on me legs and other ailments. As I recover from surgery to place a wireless pacemaker into a lower cavity of my heart, I must stay off my feet for the time being but I hope to use Kenny’s lust for life as a guide for my remaining years.
Godspeed Kenny. Amy and I offer our prayers for Susan and your family and our heartfelt condolences.