Giving Rori Independent Adventures

Rori is an eleven-year-old who enjoys being outside with family, meeting new people, and exploring new places. Due to an injury at birth, she has cerebral palsy, which makes talking and walking difficult. It didn’t hamper her adventurous spirit. She loves the open road and seeing new places by traversing the Mississippi headwaters, camping, rock climbing, downhill skiing, and lots of sledding. Many of these destinations are not wheelchair accessible, meaning I carry Rori on my back or push in a stroller. Both let her go more places but limit her independence and become difficult as she grows.

Last Summer, Rori had the opportunity to try the Grit Freedom All Terrain wheelchair. The Freedom Chair’s wheels are designed to traverse dirt, grass, sand and has levers for getting over rocks and up slopes. Rori could independently go where she wanted to, beyond the sidewalk.

We explored historical sites, fed chickens, and played yard games. At the campground, Rori could safely traverse the gravel and uneven terrain with her brother to check things out and say hi to our neighbors. That’s a big deal as she was previously dependent on me to push her chair or carry her when even her chair couldn’t safely get over the terrain.

Sadly she had to return the freedom chair at the end of the weekend, and that's why we need your help. We’re asking for your help to raise money to give Rori more independence and opportunities to feed her adventurous spirit by purchasing her own GRIT freedom chair.