By the year 2009 Dan was confined to a wheelchair. Occasionally he used an electric scooter to get around but was losing the balance and coordination required to safely control it. In early 2010 he was under the care of a long term facility in Bristol where he received much needed 24 hour medical attention. Only 7 months later, on July 20th, 2010, after an 8 year battle, Dan succumbed mercifully to this terrible illness. Sometime during this entire ordeal it was learned that AMN can develop in later years with kids with Addison’s disease.
 

When he first learned that he had AMN, Dan began doing on-line research. He learned that the outcome was ultimately death, which was devastating for him and the family. "Watching Dan's motor-skills slowly but methodically fade to the point where he could no longer walk, talk or even swallow, was the most heart wrenching situation that I've ever experienced." Rog Plaskett said. Dan showed some incredible resilience to the situation. Twice after the diagnosis, he climbed into an airplane and skydived. He also participated in some paint ball battles where his brother Greg would virtually carry him into the woods and Dan would lay in wait for an opposing team member to try and sneak by. He tried to make the best of his dire situation.
 

When Dan passed, Rog Plaskett and his wife, Donna, planted a tree in the front yard of their Harwinton home, The tree, a Japanese maple, was put there in Dan’s memory.

“Maybe that tree will enjoy the good health and steady growth that Dan never could,” Rog said. “Maybe it’ll stand strong, like Dan wished that he could have.”
 

This award and annual Daniel J. Plaskett Memorial Race were created in honor of Dan and his courage.
 

Each year the Litchfield County BMX Group Inc makes a donation in Dan's name to The United Leukodystrophy Foundation, 224 North Second Street, Suite 2, DeKalb, IL. 60115.
 

The Daniel J. Plaskett Award is given annually to a Foothills BMX rider who shows great love and dedication to the sport of BMX.

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AWARD WINNERS

2022    BRODY KESL

2021    LOGAN BARKER 

2020    AIDAN BIELLO

2019    NOAH ANDERSEN      

2018    HUNTER ZEINER         

2017    MATT ROWE  

2016    JAGUAR LAYMAN       

2015    ETHAN BEGNOCHE    

2014    TREVOR FOX  

2013    CHRISTOPHER PANNULLO     

2012    WESLEY REEL 

2011    CHRISTOPHER PFEFFER