Wheelchairs & Walleyes was born out of a necessity. Individuals with adaptive needs are constantly being forced to conform to an able-bodied world. In many cases, such as outdoor lake recreation, they aren’t even given the opportunity due to nonexistent accommodations. After witnessing firsthand how limited the access is at public lakes my wife and I chose to make it our mission to allow anyone, regardless of their physical limitations, to be able to enjoy the lake without feeling like they are a burden to their friends and loved ones. The result of this idea was the construction and donation of the most inclusive wheelchair ramp and disabled persons lift in North Dakota, at Beulah Bay Campground on Lake Sakakawea. It was topped off with the first annual Wheelchairs & Walleyes charity tournament and an officially proclaimed Children’s Mobility Awareness Day Festival on 7/25/2024.

Words cannot describe the joy and excitement from the children and parents who got to fish with their loved for the first time. However, I will quote a message that we received from a parent of one of our anglers: “All of you who saw this project through are a godsend. The gift you gave me and my daughter is something I only believed was possible in dream. I had all but given up on my lifelong dream of being able to take my daughter fishing with me. You truly have no idea the impact you have made in my life. Thank You, and God Bless You.”

The response from the community, anglers, children, and family members was so profound that Wheelchairs & Walleyes had requests from throughout the region in less than one week from the unveiling. Thus, a new movement began. Wheelchairs & Walleyes feels that every disabled child, adult, elderly loved one, and paralyzed veteran in the country deserves the right to experience what many of us take for granted every day: Independence.