Here is the moving speech that one of our 2022 Track Chair Recipients gave at our recent fundraiser. Thank you, Chase for these emotional words.
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June 22nd, 2024

Fellow sportsmen and ladies of the Northwest Sportsman's Club, and especially those of you on the board of this incredible organization.

I am here before you today, filled with gratitude and humility, to express my heartfelt thanks to each one of you for the incredible gift of a trackchair. This remarkable device has truly changed my life.

As an outdoorsman, I was pretty torn up when I was first injured and considering life confined to a traditional wheelchair. I felt like I had lost a part of myself, and the thought of leaving the great outdoors behind and those annual hunting trips with family and friends was hard to face. But, thanks to your generosity and compassion, I have been given a second chance to reconnect with nature and the activities I love.

My track chair has opened doors for me that I thought were closed forever. From morel hunting to turkey hunting and from ice fishing to sled rides for my daughter, the freedom and joy this device has given me and those dear to me is truly indescribable.

But it's not just about the physical freedom that this track chair has provided. It's about the sense of belonging and connection to the natural world that comes with it. The smell of coffee early in the morning, watching a sunrise and the dew sparkle with it and of course the adrenaline of that first gobble thundering through the timber on a gorgeous spring morning.

I want to express my deepest gratitude to each of you for your kindness and generosity. Your support has made a tangible difference in my life, and for that, I will always be grateful.

As I look back on my experiences since receiving this trackchair, I am reminded of the power of community and compassion. Your organization is more than just a group of hunters and fishermen – you are a family that cares deeply about one another and makes a difference in the lives of those around you.

In closing, I want to say thank you again to each of you for this incredible gift. You have given me back my passion for the outdoors, my sense of independence, and my connection to nature. You have shown me that even in adversity, there is always hope and always a way to find joy in the great outdoors.

May your efforts inspire others to do the same and may we all continue to cherish and protect our natural world for generations to come.

Best Regards,
Chase Keplinger