Hey there! My name is Wes Bandemer.
On June 10th, 2006, at just 16 years old, my life changed in an instant. I broke my neck racing motocross and was paralyzed from the shoulders down.
Today marks exactly 20 years since that life-changing event. To celebrate this milestone, I am doing something that is incredibly difficult for me: I am putting my pride to the side and asking for help.
If you know me, you know I am a big believer in personal responsibility. For the last two decades, I’ve tried to do as much for myself as humanly possible. I completed high school on time, went to technical college, received a drafting certificate and I’ve spent the last 10 years working hard as a graphic designer. With the help of my incredible family and friends, we have always found a way to scrape by.
In fact, we’ve used a massive amount of ingenuity to cut costs along the way. My bed, tilt table, wheelchair bike, computer desk, and the lift system, used to get me in and out of my wheelchair, are all completely homemade.
But as the years pass, bodies change, prices rise, and homemade equipment eventually wears out. To safely move into this next chapter of my life, live more independently, and ease the burden on my caregivers, I need to upgrade my equipment.
What We Are Raising Funds For
Every dollar raised from this campaign will go directly toward essential medical equipment and mobility needs that will drastically improve my quality of life:
• A Professional tilt table. I have osteoporosis, but I’ve made incredible progress countering it by weight-bearing in my homemade tilt table. A new, commercial tilt table is critical. It will be safer, easier to get into, and much easier for my caregivers to manage as I age with paralysis.
• An Electric Bedframe: Spending time on bedrest is tough, but necessary for a quadriplegic. An electric bedframe will allow me to sit up, making eating, rolling, stretching, and getting dressed infinitely more accessible for both me and my caregivers.
• Reliable Transportation: Our current wheelchair van is a 2004 model. It is my absolute lifeline for medical appointments and daily life, but the constant repair bills never seem to slow down. Our ultimate dream is to replace it with a reliable, newer wheelchair-accessible van some day soon.
Thank You for 20 Years of Support!
This is the first time in 20 years we have ever launched a GoFundMe. It takes a village, and I would not be here today without the unwavering support of everyone who has stood by me since my accident.
Your generosity has allowed me to reach this 20-year milestone. Any contribution, big or small—or simply sharing this link—will help me achieve these goals and ensure I have the resources to keep moving forward.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping me meet the next chapter head on!