Guest Blog- Jeremy Kerr

Technology is opening up doors for those with disabilities on a grand scale, be it beach chairs, handcycles, track chairs, mobile standing tables, accessible ATV's, or in this case the GRIT Freedom Chair. We are not making light of the exorbitant costs of these items, and ROAR is working to find ways to offset those fees, but we are making a declaration to keep fighting for life and to break down those barriers that keep wheelers from enjoying nature. Check out our buddy Jeremy Kerr putting his "lever chair" through it's paces. ‪#‎RoarOutdoors
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Guest Post- Craig Scott

Some people think that just because we may have do things a little "differently" than they do, that it means our quality of life is sub-par or that we don't have a sense of humor. This sometimes results in others being uptight around people who may be "different." I will never know what it feels like to lose the ability to walk because I've been in a wheelchair my whole life. I do think this makes my situation a little easier to deal with because it's all I've ever known. 

I say all of this to say that I will be marrying the love of my life next year and I received these shirts today! We couldn't be more excited to begin this journey together and, as for me, I choose to embrace what people may see as "different" about me! ‪#‎walknrollwedding2017‬ ‪#‎letswalknroll‬ ‪#‎embraceyourability‬ ‪#‎awareness

Catfish Feastival 2016

What a blessing to be invited to set up a booth this weekend @ the Ware Shoals Catfish Feastival and to share ROARs mission with new and old friends, hear great music, and to spread God's glory... A huge shout out to Ronda Brown Prince and O'dell Mop for sponsoring the booth space, Cal Branyon and family, Floyd Parker and Bonnie, Mikalyn Hudson, Timothy Hudson, Chad Foster, Austin Hodges, Janet & Daniel Daigrepont, Riley Long & his power connection and especially Zech Horne for ALL the help setting up and selling, and for friends like Keith Fields and Heather Fields and their son Jarod for keeping us motivated by his endless "thumbs up" and sporting our hat! Thank you Janet Smothers for being our gopher and to Rob Giroux and Karen Dover (your marketing co.) for sporting the logo yesterday! To our African, Connection, Mpeli Mwaisumbe and Neema Mpeli, thanks for traveling so far to be with us! And to the countless others who stopped by, thanks for the support and encouragement! ‪#‎RollOn‬ ‪#‎ROAROutdoors‬ ‪#‎CatfishFeastival2016‬

Life with an SCI

Time with family and friends is always a plus, but having the ability to roll independently on the beach is amazing. The action track chair has opened up more options than I can count...

Outdoor Freedom!!
‪#‎RoarOutdoors‬ ‪#‎BeachTrip‬n

21 Year Post Injury... and still going strong!

In a day and time when society and Hollywood are saying it's better for quadriplegics to die rather than continue to live, I take solace in the fact that I choose life and will continue to push myself to do what the medical community and some "able bodies" limit me to. The fact that auto dealers push wheelchair minivans when I drive a truck and the government tries to mandate money as a determining factor in my disability, I find it funny that some people that don't know me will pat me on the back and tell me how proud they are of the things I do and accomplish when all I'm trying to do is be a man. 

As we're driving down I-26 from North Myrtle Beach heading home, I chuckle in the fact that doctors said that at my break level (C6/C7) I would have little hand function and no triceps but here I am pulling a 16ft enclosed trailer down the road, all while carrying on a conversation with my wife. I say all of this only to state the fact that I will not be limited by anyone's misunderstanding of my disability or pigeonholed by their small-mindedness. 

I will continue to push to be the best "me" that I can be and give God the glory for allowing me to still be here carrying on this fight. Never let anyone determine who you are or what you can accomplish but continue to roll on! Today marks year 21 of my injury (June 5, 1995), and I pray for many many more. ‪#‎RoarOutdoors‬ ‪#‎Yeah21‬ ‪#‎Beachbummin‬

Cruise-ability Activities....

Physical disabilities range across a very wide spectrum and vary from individual to individual, but one of the biggest roadblocks to accepting the "new you", is close mindedness... Life doesn't end with a traumatic injury, it simply changes. Your perspectives change, your values, priorities, etc... (At least mine did), and you learn to see things through unfiltered eyes. I still use the term "before I got hurt"... Before I got hurt I could run so far without getting tired, before I got hurt I could lift so much and need no help, before I got hurt I could blah blah blah... 

The scenario goes on and on, but while those physical strengths may have dissipated due to injury and time, the mental toughness that made me a good Marine still very much lives on and I believe battles stronger. We need to see that the old you need not die per say, but accept that changes in life occur and opportunities around us abound. Opportunities to help, excel, reach out, press on, or simply to be still... Help when you can, love where you are, and look around to see those things in life we may have missed before our injuries. That being said, The amount of handicap accessible activities on board ship were numerous... Ping pong, shuffle board, putt putt, lawn chess, etc... 

Let the games begin.

Kingston Plantation- "Indoor Spaces"

Being "active" outdoors need not always be associated with specific
 activities... A stroll on a nature trail, beach front boardwalk, or 
along a neighborhood side walk can do wonders for some wheelers. Fresh 
air, open spaces, and free vitamin D sure helps me clear my mind, relax,
 and broaden my outlook. If you've followed any of ROARs blogs on 
travel, you would have noted that I preface many of them with "I am a 
very blessed man, and on occasion I get to travel with my wife's company
 to places that far exceed our personal budget". One of our favorite 
conference locations is Kingston Plantation in North Myrtle Beach South 
Carolina.

 The hotel is always clean, accommodating, and handicap 
friendly. The staff goes above and beyond to make us feel welcome, and 
they even offer free wheelchair accessible shuttle services to nearby 
eateries and shopping locations. .. Ask for "Jim" and tell him we sent 
you. 

      

The rooms are spacious, with double balcony entrance doors (see below for
pics of the bump ups)and king size beds. 

      

The bathrooms have an open floor 
plan with roll under sinks in all disability rooms, and easy access roll
 in showers in rooms 309 and 409, and transfer benches into "step ins" 
from rooms 509-1609. 

The "den/dinning" area is like wise spacious with a
 large pull out couch, deep set sink, tv, microwave, and dinning room 
table.

    

There are 3 elevators to help keep wait times down to a minimum, 
and the lobby area is massive with numerous check in stations, 
Starbucks, sports bar, and not one but two fantastic restaurants... The 
Coastal Grill and Vintage Twelve, both excellent in their own right with
 Vintage Twelve being a bit more "high end" with fancy dishes, quaint 
ambiance, and cozy seating...but who comes to the beach to stay 
inside?!? See Kingston Blog II for "outdoor spaces"...