The NO ice bucket challenge
Donation protected
The Ice Bucket Challenge has been going crazy, raising millions of dollars, mostly for ALS research, though it has spread to becoming a general philanthropic movement. Forget the potato salad- the Ice Bucket Challenge is doing some real good.
So I’m grabbing the coat tails for a little ride. If you don’t want to get wet, I won’t mind- there is no requirement to film yourself getting soaked. Just give. To ALS or any other good cause- because giving helps us all be happy.
I grew up outside on a small farm, and spent my adult summers exploring the mountains of New Mexico, Colorado and Utah, and while in grad school studying molecular biology. Almost seven years ago I hit a tree while snowboarding and became a T6 complete paraplegic. In an instant 99% of National Parks, Forests and wilderness became inaccessible. How does a dedicated wheelchair user go hiking? Paved "nature" trails. The adaptive equipment to go on even marginally rough terrain, like a steep hill, mud or rocks is expensive- $7695 to be exact. That sounds like I'm complaining, but I'm not-That is just the way life in a wheelchar is.
There are many offroad chairs- the Mountain Trike is the only one that is compact enough to also use for primitive camping, the kind that my 10 yr old son has been begging to go on. That son also made the following video that was awarded first place in the 2013 National PTA Reflections competition.
I share this to show that I'm serious about following my dreams. Between medical bills for myself and my disabled 17 yr old son (intractable epilepsy), and the low salary of a university research scientist, it will take years to save the money needed. If you want to help me get out and stay out, please donate what you can. Thank you :-D
So I’m grabbing the coat tails for a little ride. If you don’t want to get wet, I won’t mind- there is no requirement to film yourself getting soaked. Just give. To ALS or any other good cause- because giving helps us all be happy.
I grew up outside on a small farm, and spent my adult summers exploring the mountains of New Mexico, Colorado and Utah, and while in grad school studying molecular biology. Almost seven years ago I hit a tree while snowboarding and became a T6 complete paraplegic. In an instant 99% of National Parks, Forests and wilderness became inaccessible. How does a dedicated wheelchair user go hiking? Paved "nature" trails. The adaptive equipment to go on even marginally rough terrain, like a steep hill, mud or rocks is expensive- $7695 to be exact. That sounds like I'm complaining, but I'm not-That is just the way life in a wheelchar is.
There are many offroad chairs- the Mountain Trike is the only one that is compact enough to also use for primitive camping, the kind that my 10 yr old son has been begging to go on. That son also made the following video that was awarded first place in the 2013 National PTA Reflections competition.
I share this to show that I'm serious about following my dreams. Between medical bills for myself and my disabled 17 yr old son (intractable epilepsy), and the low salary of a university research scientist, it will take years to save the money needed. If you want to help me get out and stay out, please donate what you can. Thank you :-D
Organizer
Dave Gillespie
Organizer
Bountiful, UT
