Tracked Wheelchair for Pete

My name is Pete Siegel. I have a form of Muscular Dystrophy called Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) Disease. I live with my wife, Nikka and dogs, Remington, Willow (my service dog) and Gracie in Billings, MT. I have lost the ability to walk over uneven terrain and need a wheelchair in the evening or for long treks.  However, I have gotten stuck in my front yard due to the chair getting high centered.

A little bit of my history: I had planned to be a U.S. Marine and signed up at age 17 and then, after my 25yrs I wanted to start a guide service. I went to Paris Island, SC for USMC Boot Camp two days after my High School graduation but, after eight weeks of that Boot Camp, the Muscular Dystrophy took the dream of being a Marine out of the equation but, NOT out of my heart. I am currently a member of the Marine Corps League here in Billings, MT.






In 2000 I was diagnosed with stage 4 Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. The treatment for the cancer excacerbated the effects of the CMT to the point that I had to retire in August 2013 from working at the age of 45 due to my deteriorating health.

The doctors have now prescribed an electric wheel chair as I have previously mentioned. However, Medicare will not cover a chair to access the outdoors, saying it is not neccessary for life.

 I love the outdoors and I am looking for a way to access them to explore, continue fishing and to hunt like I use to do to keep my spirit.  I am an independent individual and asking for help from others is one of the most humbling things I've ever done.

I would like to purchase a track chair. Leasing a chair is not an option due to the specialized nature of these chairs. Living in Montana, a track chair should allow for a full day of access to the places I use to go no matter the temperature.

This track chair would allow me to get around in my own yard, roam outside in the winter snows, to go fishing in the summer, train Remington (my Lab), Willow and Gracie year 'round, hunting both spring and fall seasons and enjoy the outdoors more than I can now. I don't like being stuck at home in winter or spring, summer or fall when there are ways to get outside.

Unfortunately, by having to retire I am unable to afford a track chair. For that reason, I am asking for your help in accomplishing my goal. I am asking for just enough money to buy a tracked wheelchair and shipping!


This is me at an Action Pistol match in Roundup, MT. The chair had a difficult time in the gravel and the battery died even though it had a full charge that morning.

A track chair will allow me to glide over gravel and through mud and allow me the mobility to continue to explore and find out what's over that next ridge. It would also allow me to teach my grandchildren to never give up! Will you please help me accomplish this goal?

Having grandchildren I am going to need one of these chairs to even take them to the park and get around all over it, not just on the concrete paths. A track chair will also allow me to take them fishing and sledding and camping and eventually hunting and learning about nature and natures ways and how to survive in it. Any help you can give is GREATLY appreciated beyond measure!