Who we are

When I was 17, my life changed forever. I was struck by a drunk driver in a crash that left me paralyzed — and even more devastatingly, it took the life of my best friend due to complications from the wreck.

Before the accident, I was just a country kid who lived for the outdoors. Every summer, I’d camp at a nearby lake, surrounded by trees, fresh air, and freedom. When you grow up like that, the outdoors becomes a part of you — a part of your identity, your soul. So when I became disabled, that love didn’t just disappear. But suddenly, nature wasn’t accessible to me anymore.

Still, I refused to let that stop me. I found my own ways to reconnect with the outdoors — even if they weren’t always the safest — because I wasn’t going to let anything take that joy from me.

One year, I decided to celebrate my birthday by staying at a campground that had a single accessible site. I booked it in advance, excited for a weekend in nature. But when I arrived, I was told the site had been double-booked. The campground owner gave my spot to another family — who showed no visible signs of disability — and moved me to a non-accessible site.

That site had a large tree root blocking the entrance, making it impossible for me to even reach the tent area. I had to sit on the side of the road in my wheelchair, watching my fiancée struggle to set up camp by herself. That night, I slept in the car. It was cold, it was uncomfortable, and it was heartbreaking.

We left the next morning — defeated, disappointed, and angry. But on the way home, something shifted in me. I realized that I’m probably not the only one this has happened to. And I thought: instead of just "wanting change" why not "BE the change"?

That moment sparked the vision for Wheelable Wilderness — a movement to make the great outdoors truly accessible for everyone.

Now, I’m on a mission to turn that vision into reality — to ensure that no one has to go through what I did just to experience the beauty and peace of nature. And with your help, we can build a world where adventure belongs to everyone.

Let’s make the wilderness Wheelable — together.