"Riding his bike daily on the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail from Spring until the cooler days of Fall had long been his passion, his pleasure. The ride was him, loving the freedom and challenge of riding his mountain bike as fast as he could, competing with only himself, being and feeling strong and invincible. One thing that did not change for Ken with the progression of the diseases was his passion for riding and his focus on being able to again ride his bike on the Rail Trail. As his illness progressed and bikes changed from his mountain bike to three-wheeler to a recumbent bike, he rode hard and regularly, continuing to challenge himself to ride as he always had done. He rode to remain strong until a cure could be found, and he again could ride on the Rail Trail. His last ride occurred only weeks before his passing." - Jan Appel

CurePSP is the leading source of information or support for the wrath that is Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. A disease I had never heard of, really, until my father's official diagnosis...His physical body was going against him and mentally, I saw the struggle in his eyes to accept the things he could no longer do with ease. This strange and rare disease was taking my father, and I had never heard of it.CurePSP spoke with us the next day. It would not be the first time they supported myself and my family through the ordeal of having a loved one who suffers from PSP. I support CurePSP because without, my family (and so many others) would be without awareness, resources or a network to help them." - Rachael, Ken's daughter

At Ken's core was devotion to his family, and commitment to the role of family protector, a role he fiercely assumed and never relinquished. Ken and I were married for more than 36 years. He was my soulmate, my partner, each of us having our assigned seats in life. " -Jan Appel

One time on summer vacation in Vermont, my father brought his collapsible bike that he got in the army for parachuting purposes. Ken used to ride on the crossbar of Dad's bike while my father rode up and down the dirt roads. I was too afraid to try this maneuver. But, not Ken. It was great seeing the two of them getting so much enjoyment out of the bike riding experience, until the time that Dad lost control of the bike and the two of them went tumbling. After that, my mother put an end to any more of those kinds of daredevil exploits. But, as we all know never lost his love for bike riding, which he continued throughout his life." Richard, Ken's brother