ROLL BOLDLY SUMMER 2021
AdvenChairman of The Onward Project, LLC and the visionary of the AdvenChair, Geoff Babb.
BY GEOFF BABB
As I watched the assembly of the first production run of AdvenChairs – about 12 months and a brutal pandemic later than initially anticipated – I am so thankful for all the incredible help and support that we have received so far to bring the project to this point.
We were in the HeliLadder shop, generously donated by owners Dale and Susie Neubauer. Over the course of a week, the team of 20 volunteers was led by design engineer Jack Arnold and included a highly skilled group of production and mechanical engineers, as well as bike, auto and motorcycle mechanics, and a computer programmer. In other words, people who pay attention to detail.
When I started this letter, we had sold five chairs, but just today a check came in for chair number six and the first installment for number seven is in the mail. Now the buyer of chair number eight is committed to a point where we can put a “sold” tag on it. We now have two chairs left to sell! Order yours now to buy at the original introductory price of $9,950.
We're excited that an AdvenChair was rented by an outdoor school operated by Campfire, meeting our goals of reaching the rental, environmental education, and youth camp audiences.
And we are honored to have our story told by Oregon Field Guide, during the upcoming season of this long-running program on Oregon Public Broadcasting.
We have a busy summer of events ahead, including opportunities to demo and rent AdvenChair (read on for details) and we hope to see many of you out there soon.
Yet, for all of our accomplishments over the past tumultuous year, I think that Scarlett’s smile in the photo above shows why we’ve worked so hard to get where we are today. Thank you all for your support.
Onward!
AdvenChair Makes Happier Campers
Scarlett is a happy camper in the AdvenChair all-terrain wheelchair
Songs and skits around the campfire. Laughing with friends in the cabins. Wearing wood-cookie name tags with our camp name. We all have our favorite memories from outdoor school. But for Scarlett, a 5th grader from an elementary school near Eugene, Oregon, just being able to experience outdoor school with her classmates was a special memory in and of itself. And it’s all thanks to AdvenChair.
Scarlett’s standard wheelchair would not have negotiated the trails at Camp Wilani Outdoor School near Veneta, Oregon. So her school rented an AdvenChair for the week. Executive Director, Elissa Kobrin, took advantage of Measure 99 funding through the Oregon State University Extension Service Outdoor School Program to pay for it. Measure 99 is funded by the Oregon Lottery and provides $22 million annually to support Outdoor Schools in the state.
“What an amazing opportunity AdvenChair gave this 5th grader!” said Gina Huckins, Scarlett’s teacher. “Scarlett was able to access so many new experiences and learning opportunities that wouldn't have been available to her with her regular wheelchair. Thank you, AdvenChair, for allowing her to have the experience of a lifetime!”
Campfire Wilani Council, which provides the facility and staff for the school, was so impressed with the AdvenChair that it applied for, and received, additional Measure 99 funding to purchase a chair to use in their year-round youth programs.
Said Kobrin: “We are so grateful to receive the funding from OSU Extension so that we will be able to offer an AdvenChair to those needing help for years to come.”
For more information about the OSU Extension Service Outdoor School Program, contact outdoorschool@oregonstate.edu. The AdvenChair will be available for weekly rental by outdoor schools in the fall of 2021. Contact info@advenchair.com for more information.
Wild Places Here We Come!
Have you seen the reports on social media? Hikers in the forests of Oregon have been catching fleeting glimpses of a mysterious fast-moving object. It leaves very distinct tracks on the dirt trails. But rather than being dark, lumbering and apelike, it’s bright orange, streamlined and extremely agile.
It’s called the AdvenChair, of course. It’s the missing link that allows people with mobility challenges to explore the wilderness off the beaten path. And now it can be revealed that there is not just one AdvenChair roaming the terrain, but a whole fleet of them! And soon, they will frequently be seen on trails in the Pacific Northwest and well beyond.
The first ten AdvenChairs have been meticulously assembled by our team of 20 volunteers, led by Design Engineer Jack Arnold; and eight of them are being delivered to their proud new owners.
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The privilege of purchasing the very first AdvenChair goes to Jason deVries of Portland, Oregon. You may remember, Jason originally planned to use his AdvenChair to take his dad, Vern, who has Parkinson’s Disease, on hikes into the Cascades, including his favorite outing to Marion Lakes. Unfortunately, Vern’s health took a turn for the worse over the past year and he may not be able to venture far from the Veteran’s Home in Lebanon, Oregon, where he lives. So Jason plans to offer the AdvenChair to everyone at the Veteran’s Home. He is working closely with the director of activities to make sure the staff is trained to use it, so other veterans can enjoy it as well.
Here’s what Jason had to say about purchasing the first AdvenChair:
“It’s really an honor, knowing the great person Geoff [Babb] is, his passion for adventure, and his vision to help assist people in getting outdoors. It’s even more of an honor after having had the opportunity to meet some of the team working on getting these out into the world when I picked up my dad’s AdvenChair.”
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Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida is a public garden that has 250,000 visitors annually. Their purchase of an AdvenChair comes at an important time as the garden is ramping up its mobility efforts for visitors. It will also give AdvenChair great exposure on the East Coast.
“We have just purchased more electric carts and wheelchairs, and the AdvenChair will provide great access off the pathed paths on to mulched and gravel trails,” said David Price, Executive Director of the Gardens.
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The Trehu-Nabelek family from Corvallis, Oregon was able to test drive an AdvenChair before placing their order. Patrik has muscular dystrophy and uses a power chair for his daily activities, which include teaching mathematics at Oregon State University. He has big plans for his AdvenChair – a cross-country trip to Maine and a Christmas-time visit to New Zealand. We can't wait to see pictures from those trips!
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And speaking of international travel, Floyd McGregor's pilgrimage in an AdvenChair on the Camino de Santiago in Spain, delayed by the pandemic, is now back on the calendar for June 2022. Floyd suffers from myositis and his journey is meant to raise awareness of this muscle-wasting disease. Once he completes the trip he will donate the AdvenChair to another would-be Camino pilgrim. Floyd's need to change his body position frequently when in the AdvenChair inspired the design of the upper footrest option.
"Sometimes our goals are broadsided by no fault of our own, but the goal never dies,“ said Floyd. “A pandemic may delay us, yet our determination will keep us going.“
If you would like to help Floyd reach his goal, he has started a GoFundMe campaign to fund his chair: https://gofund.me. We wish him "buen Camino!"
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April Katz, Executive Director of The AIROW Project (Accessible Inclusive Recreation of Whatcom) in Bellingham, Washington is raising money to purchase an AdvenChair for her program. If you are interested in helping this young adaptive recreation program continue to grow contact https://airowproject.com/support-us.
It’s exciting to think that the AdvenChair will be used by young and old from Bellingham to Florida, and internationally in Spain and New Zealand!
AdvenChair Takes a Hike with Oregon Field Guide
After being featured on OPB Radio and NPR, AdvenChair is in the midst of completing the trifecta – a full seven-minute segment on the upcoming season of Oregon Field Guide.
Earlier this month, OPB Executive Producer Jule Gilfillan and videographer Stephani Gordon visited the HeliLadder headquarters to film the assembly of our new fleet of AdvenChairs. They also conducted extensive interviews with Geoff and Yvonne Babb, AdvenChair user Isaac Shannon, and Design Engineer Jack Arnold. When the recent scorching temperatures drop back to normal, OFG will return to film the AdvenChair team on a hike at Smith Rock State Park.
“We couldn’t be more honored or excited to get some attention from such a wonderful Oregon institution,” said AdvenChairman Geoff Babb. “I can’t wait until October or November to see how it turns out.”
Come See How We Roll
After a long COVID winter that seemed to last a whole year, summer is finally here and the trails are calling. To get you out there, we’re offering several opportunities to check out AdvenChair in Central Oregon this summer.
In collaboration with Cog Wild and LOGE Camp Bend, we will host three Demo Days where the AdvenChair team will explain and demonstrate how to use the chair on the LOGE Camp skills course and on the adjacent Rimrock trail system.
“The skills course loops and meander around the entire LOGE Camp property,” notes David Green, a frequent AdvenChair “mule”. “The variety of rock gardens, tight turns, and ramps provide the ideal proving ground for new AdvenChair riders and family members. And a short hike on the Rimrock trail offers a satisfying real-world experience.”
Demo Days take place Saturdays, July 10, August 7, and September 11. And if that whets your appetite for a longer hike along the Rimrock and Deschutes River trails, AdvenChairs will be available for half-day (4-hour) rentals, also at Cog Wild, on each of the following Sundays – July 11, August 8, and September 12,
To reserve your place for a free Demo Day ride, register at advenchair.com/demo-days. To rent an AdvenChair for $75/four hours, register at advenchair.com/rental-days.
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Also this summer, Oregon Adaptive Sports (OAS) will be offering free Community Hiking Days with AdvenChairs on four different Tuesdays (July 13 & 27, and August 10 & 24). OAS staff members will lead groups along some of Central Oregon’s favorite trails, including the Deschutes River Trail and Shevlin Park, from approximately 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. For more information, visit oregonadaptivesports.org/events/.
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And last but not least, you can check out AdvenChair at SOAR 2021, Destination Rehab’s special all-day event at the Bend Pavilion, Saturday, July 31 starting at 9:00 am. It’s designed to benefit individuals who have conditions such as stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and Parkinson's disease.
“SOAR is an exciting day of wellness, sport, and outdoor activities specifically created for people with physical challenges and disabilities,” said Taylor Kopecky of Destination Rehab. “We encourage everyone to bring their family and friends for a free lunch and all kinds of activities”
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All of these events are subject to weather and healthy outdoor conditions. Extreme heat, thunderstorms, or smoke may cause cancellations on short notice. For up-to-date information, email info@advenchair.com.
Just Say "Yes" to Life
Just Say “Yes” to Life, a new book for stroke survivors and their families and caregivers, will be published in summer 2021 by Stroke Awareness Oregon in Bend. The book features stories of 23 stroke survivors from all over the U.S., ranging in ages from 17 to 71. Written to give solace to current survivors, the stories in Just Say “Yes” to Life detail how each person coped physically, emotionally, and psychologically in the aftermath of stroke.
The book will be available on Amazon in print (ISBN: 978-1-7372450-0-1), digital, and audio forms. https://strokeawarenessoregon.org/
Kerry Chaput tells Geoff Babb's story in “Rolling Boldly”.
Rolling Boldly—Geoff Babb
by Kerry Chaput
Geoff Babb will tell you that he didn’t suffer a stroke. He will tell you he survived one.
In 2005 Geoff was active in his career as a Bureau of Land Management fire ecologist, and an avid outdoorsman. He scaled rocks and hiked mountain peaks. His world revolved around connecting with nature and people, whether it be fighting wildfires or adventuring with his family through the Pacific Northwest’s stunning landscapes. He was an active father of twin boys, Cory and Emory, and a devoted husband to his wife, Yvonne.
On November 10, 2005, he had a headache and vomiting that lasted hours. Thinking it was simply dehydration, he monitored his symptoms and didn’t think too much of it. But twelve hours later the headache still persisted, and his speech started slurring. They knew it was time for a trip to the hospital.
“Things started to go downhill,” he said. “At one point I couldn’t hold my breath for more than a few seconds. They prepared to put me under to give me a breathing tube. I was getting pretty scared by then.” He was nervous about leaving his family, or not being what they needed. By 10pm he couldn’t move his left side, and by noon the next day, he was on a respirator.
When Yvonne visited him in the ICU the next day, the only thing he could do was blink his eyes. She kept her support positive, but he was fighting a lung infection, so she had to face the fear that he might not make it. Geoff could move his eyebrows and make minimal motions of his head, and so they began to learn new ways to communicate with each other. He started visualizing climbing Sisters mountain near his home in central Oregon, dreaming of the progress he hoped to make. Yvonne liked to think of his stroke as “just one more mountain to climb.”
Days were measured in centimeters of movement, tubes, surgeries, and needles. They learned right away to rejoice in every ounce of improvement, a twitch of a smile, a raise of an eyebrow. His circle of friends and family held the family up, showering them with support. Less than two weeks into his recovery, his firefighter friends hosted a barbeque in the hospital parking lot. The nurses were able to get him in a chair and wheel him to the window, where fifty people below cheered for him. Yvonne propped up his elbow so he could wave back. People continued to show up for their family in so many ways, and it gave them both the strength to keep fighting.
He was convinced that he needed to get out of the hospital. Even the rehabilitation facility didn’t feel right. “I wanted to be home. I felt that my progress would be better there.” While at rehab, he opted out of the power wheelchair, choosing instead to stay in a manual wheelchair, against the advice from some healthcare professionals. It was more work, and painstaking at times. But Geoff needed to feel the movement in his body. He soon discovered another benefit of the manual chair. “I found that moving slower, I was able to connect with people in the hospital. Those brief but deep connections with people were meaningful. I wouldn’t have had those moments if I used the power chair like the therapists wanted me to.”
Geoff returned home, and he and Yvonne faced new challenges. The progress Geoff was hoping for at home didn’t come. “A new body required a new response,” he said. Yvonne remembered that Geoff was so motivated that he wanted to exercise all the time, and over time that eventually began to wear on her. “I was the morning, afternoon, and night shift,” she said. “He once said, ‘if you could stretch me more,’ and I cut him off and said, ‘no, I can’t do more.’” She took baby steps towards a more balanced life for herself by leaning on her support group, and making time for walks with friends, and occasionally biking to work. She learned how to let family and friends assist Geoff with his two-hour nighttime routine so she could get a night off. Geoff was thankful, and his gratitude and patience helped her move forward.
His family faced another mountain to climb once he came home. “You become aware of all the barriers in the world when you are in a wheelchair,” Yvonne said. They were all on a new journey and learned as they went. One day Yvonne had a heart to heart with one of their sons, Cory, who was thirteen at the time. “I wanted to explain to him that things were going to be different. He said to me, ‘How? My dad is still my dad.’ That gave me strength.” Moreover, his sons lifted Geoff when he would fall and jumped at any opportunity to help their dad.
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As soon as he could, Geoff turned to the place that always restored him. Nature. Even sitting in his yard and taking in the fresh air and the views reset his frame of mind. The breeze, the clear air, and the quiet sounds of nature helped settle his worries and refocus him. He decided that nothing was going to stop him from returning to work and getting connected again with nature.
To his delight, his colleagues at the fire camp, whom he calls his summer family, approached him and asked how they could help get him back out in the field the next fire season. They set to work building a yurt with a ramp and access to a special ADA bathroom. The next season, he was out in the field again, creating plans to fight local wildfires. “These men would work sixteen-hour days and then help Geoff with his clothes and bathing,” Yvonne said. “ It brought me to tears.”
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Along the rushing Deschutes River in central Oregon lies a trail that Geoff has traversed many times. It’s a special place where pine trees gather, and black lava rock splits the river. Views of waterfalls and the meandering water create a hiker’s paradise. Geoff wasn’t about to let a stroke stop him from experiencing that again. He knew he needed a wheelchair that could get him into the outdoors. A dream was born. To create a wheelchair that would take him anywhere he desired.
Geoff enlisted the help of his friend Dale, a helicopter mechanic, to modify his regular wheelchair with more rugged tires, a detachable front wheel, handbrakes, and a harness. He called it the “Advenchair 1.0.” With help from friends and family, he hit the trail in his new wheelchair.
Unable to maneuver AdvenChair 1.0 over a difficult patch of rocks, his hiking partners lowered him to the ground, where he experienced the sensation that he remembered from rock climbing. “We had some great adventures in my original ‘AdvenChair,’” said Geoff, “all of which prepared us for a trip to the bottom of the Grand Canyon in 2016 … more or less.” After a broken axle on the Bright Angel Trail less than two miles down into the Grand Canyon, nature showed Geoff once again not what he couldn’t do, but what he could work towards. The wheelchairs available were not going to cut it, but Geoff wasn’t about to give up. It was back to the drawing board. “Each setback is a gift,” Geoff said. It provides another opportunity for improvement.
It was time to get creative. Pulling from the creativity he never realized was inside of him, he began to work on the design of an all-terrain wheelchair. He needed something sturdy that could stand up to the rugged terrain of his favorite hiking trails. He knew that his biggest obstacle was not his stroke, but the equipment available to him. He worked with a CAD designer and Yvonne and Dale to create the next version of the AdvenChair, one that could take him back out to the therapeutic power of nature. He believed that with the right chair, nothing was off limits.
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On November 10, 2017, it all came to a grinding halt when he experienced another stroke, on the other side of his brainstem. Twelve years to the day of his initial incident, he was back in the hospital, fighting through another stroke. Yvonne remembered the doctors shocking his heart to stabilize his atrial fibrillation. “As they’re shocking him with the paddles, I was cheering him from behind the curtain in between sobs.”
He had to relearn how to swallow, how to speak, and use his right hand. Severe muscle spasms required a pump implanted in his stomach. His body once again fought infection after infection through months in the hospital. People like to joke with him, telling him to avoid November 10 like it’s jinxed. He says it’s the opposite. “I say it’s a day to celebrate. Celebrate the things I’ve overcome and the gift of discovering what I’m capable of.”
Because of his physical limitations, Geoff had to retire. Leaving a decades long career meant having to redefine his identity. He had to say goodbye to his summer family. Instead of focusing on what he’d lost, he put all his energy into his new dream of improving the AdvenChair.
With his newly-regained entrepreneurial spirit, he went back to work on the chair with the CAD designer and Yvonne and Dale. The new chair, the AdvenChair 2.0, was revised and improved, tested and improved again. The team finally created a prototype that passed all the tests. It’s an all-terrain wheelchair with an adjustable sit-ski seat, adjustable handlebars, 27.5-inch mountain bike wheels, and fitted with high-grade aluminum mountain bike components throughout, scheduled for rollout in summer 2021. It will be the first of its kind in the world.
Geoff knew that the AdvenChair 2.0 could take him over rocks and along streams, through the Grand Canyon and camping in the forests. What he began to realize, is that it could give others that gift, too. He connected with people on hospice and families with terminally-ill children, all longing for the gift of family time in nature. When he could, he also joined the boards of Healing Reins Therapeutic Riding Center and Oregon Adaptive Sports, both in Bend. When the second stroke took away his career, it gave him the gift of purpose, one that now belonged to helping others.
It’s been fifteen years of rolling boldly for Geoff Babb, and he has no plans to slow down. Beyond the Grand Canyon, Geoff and Yvonne plan to climb the Great Wall of China and hike the Camino de Santiago, a five-hundred-mile trek through Spain’s fifteen regions.
“Retiring was an end, but it was also a beginning. It was a chance to focus on a new adventure. I never imagined myself creating something like this, but I soon discovered how much I wanted to make a difference.” Geoff committed to his new purpose, and now he loves connecting with others who want to enjoy nature with their families. He likes to quote J. K. Rowling, who wrote: “Fate shoved you through an unexpected door, and you lit the way for others.”
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What helped Geoff and his family through?
On the day Geoff went to the hospital after his first stroke, a community began to form around him, Yvonne, and the boys. Friends near and far sent messages and gifts and words of encouragement. Over time, they organized themselves into teams, some of which helped at home, and others which helped get Geoff back outside. “Our lives have become so rich because of the people around us,” Geoff said. “I realized that not only did we need help, but people needed to help us. People have gifts to offer, and our whole journey has been about accepting those gifts.” The community of people supporting Geoff and Yvonne and their sons only grows larger with time.
Geoff’s strokes challenged him and his family in ways they never thought possible. But it also brightened their lives in unexpected ways. “It’s brought us closer as a family.”
Geoff’s AdvenChair is taking him on physical journeys to all corners of the world, but it has also taken him on a spiritual journey. Through his stroke recovery he not only discovered a motivation to share his gifts with others, but that our physical bodies are no match for the amazing capability of our minds.