PVC wheelchairs? NO NO NO!

This is the WORST idea for beach wheelchairs, and I will go toe to toe and argue anyone who thinks and says otherwise. This is a cheap way to make a device that should be comfortable for people with special needs. PVC was meant for carrying water, not our loved ones. In the sun, the PVC and the glue will deteriorate. It squeaks and wiggles. Most chairs don’t have articulating wheels, so the rider experience is one of being shoved around. At that point, this is a wheelbarrow for your family or friend.

But let’s not miss the MOST important issue here–the seat is about 10″ taller than a standard wheelchair. Getting in and out of these is complex, to say it nicely. I will never have a nice thing to say about these, I will never own or build one, and I will never suggest it. Organizations think they’re doing something good for their special needs community by purchasing these for donation. Municipalities think they’re being smart, saving money, and still helping. But they have no idea just how bad an idea this is. If you ask someone with special needs, they’ll tell you what works. Don’t buy this thinking you’re doing a good deed. Spend the extra money to buy something like a DeBug, made of stainless steel, comfortable to ride in, and steers easily.

I used to say “in the absence of anything, this will work.” However, I’m taking that back. Don’t use it. Your beach experience will not be as smooth as it could be, and you’ll have a tainted view of the type of service I offer. I take significant pride in putting my client’s comfort at the top of the hierarchy. That’s why you don’t see these in my fleet, not ever.

If you want to purchase one of these as a kind gesture to a community, please reconsider, and get a DeBug or similar. Avoid these please.

Imitation, the sincerest form of flattery?

That phrase has been said for ages, but at some point, it also becomes outright fraud. There have been a lot of people to get into the beach wheelchair business for the wrong reasons–everyone seems to think they’ll get wealthy. Well, I have news for you! That’s not how it works. If you have that mindset, you’re going to fail people. I’ve had several people copy my Nomad; even have gone so far as to name their chair the Nomad (and their time is coming). Please understand, if you didn’t get it from me, or from Extreme Mobility prior to 2015, you don’t have THIS chair. If you see a photo that you’ve seen on this website, and someone is calling it theirs, they’re defrauding you. There’s nothing I hate more than seeing someone with special needs being taken advantage of. If you suspect fraud, please let me know. 386-882-7263. I want to end this!

We Rent Experiences

At BMR, we don’t rent beach wheelchairs. We rent experiences. Your vacation is important, and it’s where memories are born for life. Never has a client left their vacation with anything less than a smile and satisfaction from an experience they had while using one of our chairs. It’s a pretty incredible feeling knowing that 30 years from now, someone will reflect on a vacation when one of my beach wheelchairs was integral in the memory. They’ll see photos, videos, and tell stories, and that warms my heart. I don’t take what I do lightly. It’s serious business giving people more than they hoped for. It’s serious business knowing that my beach wheelchairs will give them a lifelong memory, and I want that to be a great memory! The world can be pretty unforgiving for people with disabilities. One person, one vacation, one experience at a time, I hope to make a positive impact on families, and bring them back to our little slice of Heaven in Daytona Beach Florida!

Floating in bliss

Every person I meet touches me in some way. One day while demonstrating a chair to a new client, I watched as a group of women were pushing a young girl in the sand, struggling to get her small thin-tired wheelchair close to the water’s edge. I dropped what I was doing, ran over, and gave them the use of one of my chairs to make this moment not only possible, but to exceed what they were expecting. Meet Sarah.  This beautiful girl stole my heart shortly after entering the water with her family friend, pushing her beach wheel chair, and helping her float so she could enjoy some wave action in the Atlantic. The joy on her face and mine should tell you a story words cannot capture. I could have been on any stretch of this gorgeous Volusia County beach, but at this particular moment, God had me right where I needed to be. This was no coincidence.

Awhile back, I realized that what we do at Beach Mobility Rentals is to turn disabilities into abilities. And this moment in Daytona Beach, those words couldn’t have rung a bell any louder.

Get on the sand!

-Greg

Hello my friends!

One of the most fascinating realizations in life is understanding that moment when you know why God put you on this earth. For some, there may be many moments scattered throughout a lifetime, not just one  single calling.

Perhaps you saved someone’s life, or your career served so many others, or you reflect on the opportunity to have raised loving children. In my case, my epiphany was the moment I knelt in the sand on August 24 2015, holding hands with 3 women, one with a crippling paralysis, praying thanks for the beautiful day for her to enjoy her day on the sand in one of my beach wheelchairs.

It felt like the hand of God pressing down on my back, shoving me into the sand, making me realize it’s right here, right now, that my calling was to serve people with disabilities on the warm sands of the Florida beaches. Etched in my mind forever, that moment with Diana and her family will never leave me. I’ve “been there” for a lot of great moments for people, I’ve raised children to be responsible adults, I’ve served a lot of people in many capacities. But never before in my life have I felt such a confirmation of calling as to being where I am right here, right now. Stick around and you’ll see some stories of the people who touch my life, who I am honored to serve.

Get on the sand!

-Greg