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Hello friends! I am Michael Boyd and have been living life since 1994 as a quadriplegic. It was a construction accident that paralyzed me when my neck fractured after a head first fall. Since that tragic day sitting has been a requirement but sitting still has not. I was active pre-injury and have been active in spite of the injury. One of the activities I do is handcycling. The current handcycle I ride was paid for in part through a GoFundMe campaign many of you donated to. Riding that hand cycle has been a great source of exercise and happiness.
The primary challenge I experience with riding is the back of my hands become extremely tender from the pain that happens from the pressure of the current shifters to that area of my hands. There is a solution and that is the reason for this fundraiser… electronic shifting.
Shifting for quadriplegics is one of the greatest challenges for maintaining rhythm when handcycling. With the electronic shifters I will be able to change gears even when fully stopped, such as happens at intersections. Shifting on the fly will also be simplified with a lite touch from the back of my hand to a button. I am told by other quadriplegics that have already started using electronic shiftering that this will be a game changer for me.
Because exercise is especially important to my health in the wheelchair I have searched for options to pay for these electronic shifters. Last Fall I applied for a grant requesting the amount it would cost to purchase and have installed electronic shifters on my handcycle. On April 4 I received a grant check in the mail from Challenged Athletes Foundation that will pay for the greater part of purchasing and having installed electronic shifting to my existing handcycle. HOO RA! But that still leaves me a balance for which I am asking your help by donating here, making it possible for me to go forward with making the purchase and installation of this system.
Challenged Athletes Foundation requires that the grant money be used on this grant request by October 31, 2016. So that means I need to see this fundraiser happen by or before the above mentioned date. Actually I'm hoping this fundraiser reaches its goal in time for me to be able to ride using the electronic shifters possibly as soon as late May.
Being able to improve my handcycle pace and exercise experience without the hand pain will mean far more to me than hearing the ice cream truck entering my neighborhood.
I will be especially thankful today knowing that you my friend believed enough in me to give of yourself to this GoFundMe campaign on my behalf. Thank you VERY much!
The primary challenge I experience with riding is the back of my hands become extremely tender from the pain that happens from the pressure of the current shifters to that area of my hands. There is a solution and that is the reason for this fundraiser… electronic shifting.
Shifting for quadriplegics is one of the greatest challenges for maintaining rhythm when handcycling. With the electronic shifters I will be able to change gears even when fully stopped, such as happens at intersections. Shifting on the fly will also be simplified with a lite touch from the back of my hand to a button. I am told by other quadriplegics that have already started using electronic shiftering that this will be a game changer for me.
Because exercise is especially important to my health in the wheelchair I have searched for options to pay for these electronic shifters. Last Fall I applied for a grant requesting the amount it would cost to purchase and have installed electronic shifters on my handcycle. On April 4 I received a grant check in the mail from Challenged Athletes Foundation that will pay for the greater part of purchasing and having installed electronic shifting to my existing handcycle. HOO RA! But that still leaves me a balance for which I am asking your help by donating here, making it possible for me to go forward with making the purchase and installation of this system.
Challenged Athletes Foundation requires that the grant money be used on this grant request by October 31, 2016. So that means I need to see this fundraiser happen by or before the above mentioned date. Actually I'm hoping this fundraiser reaches its goal in time for me to be able to ride using the electronic shifters possibly as soon as late May.
Being able to improve my handcycle pace and exercise experience without the hand pain will mean far more to me than hearing the ice cream truck entering my neighborhood.
I will be especially thankful today knowing that you my friend believed enough in me to give of yourself to this GoFundMe campaign on my behalf. Thank you VERY much!