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Wheeling across the country

Commuters crossing the McClugage Bridge on Friday afternoon may have thought they were seeing things.

But, yes, that was a man in a wheelchair rolling his way toward Peoria. Matt Eddy, 31, is on a cross-country journey with a few friends to promote freedom from institutionalization.

Often, people with severe disabilities are placed in expensive, state-subsidized housing, where their every move is controlled and they aren't allowed to leave, said Eddy and Ron Steenbruggen, a friend who is accompanying him.

"That's no way for someone to be. It's like prison," Eddy said.

Eddy, who was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, spent five months in an institution when medical complications aggravated his condition.

That was enough to know he didn't want to go back. So Matt's Place, a charity, was started toward the end of 2000 to get Eddy out of the institution and back into the community.

Since then, the organization has grown, and it now helps build accessible housing and provides items of comfort, such as cable and the Internet, to people with disabilities.

But Eddy, who has outlived doctors' predictions by eight years, wants to do more.

He hopes his five-month wheelchair ride from Boston to Long Beach, Calif., attracts the attention of big business. That's because he needs big money for the big project he has planned.

That project is a prototype apartment community, eight to 10 units, built with people such as himself in mind - wide doorways, low counters, roll-in showers. A staff of people to help the community members would be present but not authoritative. Residents would be allowed to leave at their own discretion.

If it's built in Boston, near Eddy's hometown, Lynn, Mass., the apartment complex would cost $3.5 million.

"Most people with severe disabilities are mentally capable but need physical assistance," Steenbruggen said. This type of apartment would provide a sense of freedom that does not yet exist for the severely disabled, he said.

Eddy and Steenbruggen developed the concept and the plans. All they need is the money. So they're hoping a TV show will tell their story when they reach their destination.

Their choice in how to get exposure after a series of letdowns.

"We've tried grants and no one really responded, so I felt that we had to do something pretty crazy to get people's attention, and this is pretty crazy," Eddy said. "I'm going across country in a wheelchair with a respirator and all I can move is my hands."

Friday was the 41st day of the trip, which has taken them through mountains and plenty of corn fields.

"The cornfields are getting pretty boring, but I can't stop eating (corn)," Eddy said. They often spend their nights at campgrounds while the wheelchair battery is charged.

Also along for the ride are Danielle Steenbruggen, 27, Ron's daughter, and Stephen Donahue, 27, a friend. All three take turns riding alongside Eddy on bicycles.

Steven Bushong can be reached at (309) 686-3196 or sbushong@pjstar.com .