The adaptive golf wheelchair will allow Oregon residents with mobility challenges to play golf through the Medford-based nonprofit
MEDFORD, Ore. (June 1, 2021) - David’s Chair will host its first annual golf tournament at Stone Ridge Golf Club on Saturday, June 5, 2021, when the Medford-based nonprofit will debut its new Paragolfer, donated in part by the Stand Up and Play Foundation. Through David’s Chair, the adaptive golf chair will be available to those with mobility challenges for use at Stoneridge Golf Club with plans to make it available for other golf courses throughout southern Oregon at no cost to the user.
“Everyone at David’s Chair is so excited to add the paragolfer to our lineup of outdoor recreational mobility chairs,” CEO and co-founder Steve Furst said. “Golf is a very popular sport in the Rogue Valley, and thanks to the Stand Up and Play Foundation, we’ll be able to offer many people with mobility challenges the opportunity to tee it up and get out on the fairway- maybe even for the first time in their lives.”
The paragolfer is a wheelchair designed to fully lift and support the user to allow for a golf swing. Anthony Netto, designer of the Paragolfer and founder of the Stand Up and Play Foundation, a nation-wide nonprofit, will be in attendance to present the paragolfer to David’s Chair at 8:30 a.m. Saturday during the tournament. The Stand Up and Play foundation selected David’s Chair to receive a grant that covers over half of the cost of a Paragolfer; proceeds from the tournament will cover the rest of the cost.
Despite it being the tournament’s first year, it has already filled all team slots. Registration and check-in will begin at 7 a.m. at Stone Ridge Golf Club, with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Participants and spectators can enjoy a barbecue luncheon, awards, and a raffle directly following the tournament.
Social distancing will be observed at the tournament, and masks will be made available. All proceeds from the event will support the David’s Chair mission of providing freedom to those with mobility challenges.
Additional information is available on the David’s Chair Facebook page.
About David’s Chair
David’s Chair got its start in 2017, after Medford man David Hartrick was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). An avid hunter and fisherman, David immediately began searching for a way to enjoy the outdoors in the confines of a wheelchair. With the help of co-founder Steve Furst, the pair discovered Action Trackchairs and raised enough money to buy one. David recognized he wouldn’t be able to use it for long and dreamed of others benefiting from the chair as well; shortly after, the non-profit David’s Chair was born.
David passed away on January 11, 2018, just 11 months after his ALS diagnosis. However, David’s Chair continues to give the gift of independence and freedom to people with ALS and other mobility challenges. Both David’s original Action Trackchair, along with four newer chairs have been used by people with mobility challenges to go places and experience freedom they haven’t been able to, free of charge.
With the help of donations in the form of grants, sponsors, and generous individuals, David’s Chair has taken people and their families on exciting outdoor excursions at locations that are inaccessible to regular wheelchairs.
About The Stand Up And Play Foundation
The Stand Up and Play Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)3, 100% volunteer-based organization comprised of individuals who donate their time and efforts to make active standing therapy a reality for everyone with mobility challenges. Founded by Anthony Netto, an international ambassador for challenged golf and a United States Golf Teachers Federation (USGTF) Master Golf Teaching Professional since 1999, his belief that anybody can lead a healthy life despite physical limitations has been proven time and time again. He sustained a life-altering injury while serving with the South African Defense Force and again when hit by a drunk driver in 1994. He co-invented the all-terrain standing sports wheelchair, the Paragolfer (by Ottobock), and founded the Stand Up and Play Foundation to make Paragolfers available to individuals with impaired mobility across the world. For more information, visit www.standupandplayfoundation.org.
Media contact:
Natalie Weber, Director of Public Relations
(503) 898-2185 | natalie@davidschair.org