ROLL BOLDLY FALL 2021
Oregon Field Guide films the AdvenChair at Smith Rock State Park for its “Adventure Wheelchair’ on Oregon Public Broadcasting.
BY GEOFF BABB
Just when we all thought it was safe to take our masks off and venture outside again...Along came the second half of 2021, which was especially challenging for the AdvenChair team and me personally.
Not only did the world get hit with a COVID variant that was nastier than the original:
AdvenChair’s Demo Days were all but wiped out by wildfire smoke and poor air quality.
The Portland Parkinson's Cycling Fair was canceled by heat dome (a new extreme weather event) and Destination Rehab’s SOAR Day did not go as planned.
I ended up spending two stints in the hospital to untwist my colon.
But the past six months have been far from tragedy and disappointment. We had numerous rewarding demo and orientation hikes. We delivered almost all of our first production run of 10 AdvenChairs and watched them go off to Machu Picchu in Peru (see below), an outdoor school in Oregon, and other amazing places. And we had a trifecta of videographers tell our story in three unique ways for KTVZ News, Central Oregon Daily, and OPB’s Oregon Field Guide (see our press library)
Yes, these are turbulent, yet exciting, times to be sure. But we're making steady progress and learning a ton along the way. And most importantly, we are now accepting orders for Production Run #2 in 2022. So we begin the next exciting stage of our journey.
But first, it’s the perfect time of year to say how grateful I am for all of the team and family members, doctors and nurses, firefighters and frontline COVID-fighters, and all people who love the outdoors for their dedication, perseverance and support.
Onward! (Or as our Peruvian amigos say, Adelante!)
—Geoff Babb, AdvenChairman
AdvenChair knocks Machu Picchu off the bucket list.
Team Kapen at Machu Picchu with the AdvenChair
So much for starting slowly and gradually picking up speed. Less than three months off the assembly line, one of the first ten AdvenChairs ever made has already explored one of the eight wonders of the world.
“We wanted to make an all-terrain chair that would enable people with disabilities and physical challenges to roll boldly into wild places and achieve important milestones with the help of family and friends,” said Geoff Babb, AdvenChairman and Founder of AdvenChair. “Team Kapen wasted no time in doing just that.”
“Team Kapen” is spearheaded by 33-year-old Robert Kapen, who survived a brain stem stroke at the early age of 23, and his wife Nelly, who was born and raised in Peru. Their venture to the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu in August was a dream come true for both of them. Nelly finally got to see her country’s most famous landmark. And Robert finally found a vehicle that could quench his burning desire to explore off the beaten path with minimal limitations.
After struggling to engage with the wilderness in his regular wheelchair, the couple from southern California discovered AdvenChair with its durable and nimble mountain-bike inspired design. With their proposed family trip to Machu Picchu just a few weeks away, they took a side trip to Bend on a visit to the Northwest and did an extensive test drive of the AdvenChair and got well acquainted with Geoff and Yvonne Babb.
Robert Kapen going along the treacherous steep path up Machu Picchu in the AdvenChair.
As a fellow brain stem stroke survivor and outdoor lover, Robert Kapen found a kindred spirit in Geoff Babb, and was immediately drawn to AdvenChair’s mountain bike components and safety features, like brakes, wheels and tires, and handlebars.
“When my other chair needed to be lifted over obstacles, people would jump in and start accidentally ripping off parts,” said Robert. “They’d say, ‘Oops, hope you don’t need that.’ But on our first excursions with AdvenChair, if we needed help, they immediately knew where to grab. I felt much safer in this chair with all the belts, shocks and handlebars.”
With the help of Team Kapen’s fundraising efforts, purchasing an AdvenChair and taking it almost directly to Peru was a no-brainer.
“Having just this one chair was so convenient in terms of space, durability, and safety,” said Nelly. “The AdvenChair held up to everything we threw at it, from taking it apart and putting it together, transferring in and out of vehicles. But most importantly, climbing the trail at extreme altitude couldn’t have been easier. "
The ancient Incans obviously didn’t design the trails to the remote Andes city with AdvenChair in mind. Nor did the modern trains and taxis in Cuzco for that matter. But with a little ingenuity and perseverance, Nelly and her family were able to maneuver Robert through airports, on to shuttle buses and trains in its wheelchair mode. Then after making the easy switch to all-terrain mode on the big day, the team was able to use the slightly wider and safer return path to reach Machu Picchu.
“We couldn’t have done this trip without AdvenChair,” said Robert. “I feel so blessed, grateful, and loved that the people I call my community stepped up and faithfully gave money. The only way I know to truly thank them and God for the awesome providence they bestowed on me is to use the chair continually and spread God’s message of love, peace, and grace everywhere I travel.”
You can’t ask for a better testimonial than that. To see Team Kapen’s photo-packed account of their Machu Picchu expedition check out their Instagram reels below and then visit the blogpost on our website.
Lights. Camera. AdvenChair!
Geoff Babb from Central Oregon Daily News Shevlin Park video
A busy summer on the trails has thrust AdvenChair into the spotlight in the past few weeks. Not one. Not two. But three different news and lifestyle programs have done feature stories about AdvenChair recently.
In August, KTVZ’s Leslie Cano reported on how the mountain bike circuit course surrounding The Loge in Bend is the perfect place for people to check out the AdvenChair and take free demo rides into the nearby wilderness. The scheduled Demo Days got off to a bit of a rocky start with smoky skies coming earlier than usual last summer. But you can bet the AdvenChair team will be out offering more rides as soon as the trails clear next spring. Check out the video here.
On a brisk morning in September, storyteller Eric Lindstrom of Central Oregon Daily News met the AdvenChair and Oregon Adaptive Sports crews for a hike through Shevlin Park. With the enthusiastic Kim O’Kelley-Leigh along for the ride, Lindstrom shared about the healing and rejuvenating power of being outdoors, and how AdvenChair is an absolute game changer for people with mobility challenges, offering them a better quality of life. View the Central Oregon Daily News video here.
Also this summer, AdvenChair’s unique and uplifting story caught the attention of Jule Gilfillan, a producer with Oregon Public Broadcasting’s long-running Oregon Field Guide program. A crew from OPB joined Geoff and Bend college student Isaac Shannon for a spirited trek through Smith Rock State Park in August and the seven-minute video segment premiered on Thursday, November 11 at 8:30 pm. Check out the short teaser video here, then click below for the full episode.
As a side note, Geoff and Jule made an important connection right away: Jule’s dad, Warren Gilfillen (aka Mr. Gil), had interviewed Geoff for his first job with Multnomah Outdoor School in 1981. This was not only the beginning of his connection to outdoor education but was where he met his future wife Yvonne.)
“Getting featured on Oregon Field Guide, as well as locally on Central Oregon Daily and KTVZ News recently is very rewarding for us,” said Geoff. “People are starting to take notice and frequently know who we are when they see us in Central Oregon. Hopefully, it will be the same way when we venture into other parts of the Northwest next year.”
Rolling into production 2022. Order your AdvenChair now.
Like most popular hikes in the Cascades or any other mountain range, 2021 has had its share of ups and downs. But as we approach the summit, we definitely like the view from where we are and can’t wait to see what lies ahead in 2022. We already know that AdvenChairs from our first production run will be exploring trails from Canada to New Zealand; and plans are in the works to take on the famous Camino de Santiago in Spain and the Bright Angel Trail to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
The question is, where will you take your AdvenChair when the next fleet arrives next summer? We are now taking orders for our second production run and suggest you place your order soon. We know the holidays are approaching and budgets are tight. But this is a great time of year for fundraising. And flexible payment plans are available. To order an Advenchair for yourself, your loved one or your organization, visit advenchair.com/products. Please contact us directly if you have any questions at info@advenchair.com.
Until next time, keep on rolling boldly.
