Page 11 - CMTeen_Volume1_Issue3
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I HAVE BEEN WHEELCHAIR-BOUND since foot rest, a seatbelt and leg belt that let me
my junior year of high school in 2014. I was become one with my steed, wheels that actual-
born with CMT, but it didn’t start making an ly air up and scooter wheels in the front to go
impact until around sixth grade. It was a lot to faster. The chair is ultra-lightweight, a good
comprehend at a young age, but I didn’t think thing in WCMX.
of living life any differently. I played baseball
from second grade till seventh. I used to BMX I’ve been attempting stunts for two years now.
(bicycle motocross) and try to skateboard. I I’ve jumped curbs, two stairs, three stairs,
studied karate from second grade till fourth. dropped into half pipes and attempted to
I’d climb trees and try anything. My reality grind. In these ventures, I’ve had some gnarly
was a nonstop adventure! spills from face planting to rolling after flying
out to catapulting and bouncing. Once my
I’ve always had pretty intense social anxiety tooth went through my lip.
and that only got worse throughout middle
school and high school, but I survived. Barely, I love WCMX because of how intense and
but I still managed. In middle school I made hard-core my accomplishments are. A lot
a couple of friends that I can say I’ve had the of people have asked why I do these things.
pleasure to know, inspire and learn from. I Once a lady said to me, “Chase why do you
was a rebel and a problem in my younger try? You know you’re going to fall.” That only
years and lived in in-school suspension. fueled me to ignore the spills and temporary
pain and the people who can’t comprehend a
I have a strong interest in many fields— passion as deep as mine. My mindset is that I
philosophy, genetics, spiritualism, frequencies can do whatever I set my mind to and achieve
of energy and physics in general. It makes my goals no matter how many times I fly out
a lot of sense that I love skating and WCMX of my chair. All is temporary in this physical
(wheelchair motocross), considering it’s all realm, whether it be life, happiness, pain or
physics. depression. It is all temporary. I am ready to
go full speed into this life spreading the two
I found my calling when I discovered my idol, things that are forever—love and hope.
Aaron “Wheelz” Fotheringham, an extreme
wheelchair athlete who does tricks adapted No one should hold themselves back or put
from skateboarding and BMX. Aaron, who has themselves down because of anything they
spina bifida, is the godfather of the wheelchair perceive to be negative. Every action you do or
scene and basically created WCMX. He was conscious decision you make is the result of
the first to do a double backflip in a wheelchair willpower and those of us who go through
and to jump many mega ramps. He’s created semi-obstacles just to survive see the beautiful
a legacy from his sick and fearless way of life. glimpses of life far more.
He rides in a Box chair forged in the flames of
love and hope, carved to perfection by Mike So with this article in mind, I challenge all
Box himself, the builder of the most radical- readers to push yourselves more every day you
ly advanced action sports wheelchairs in the wish to encounter something truly beautiful
world. and magical.
The Box chair has a sweet suspension system Chase Myers, 19, lives in Texas.
to help with standard stair sets and jumps He’s raising money for a Box wheelchair at
conjured by Satan himself. It also has a grind www.gofundme.com/2gktofw.
bar under the axle and grind pad under the
MOTOCROSS
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