Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Dahl.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
June 18, 2017 my life took a dramatic turn one month after graduating college, I was shot in the back by two guys in attempt to rob me. As they tried to rob me, I attempted to flee in my car when they began shooting at me. My ears began to ring and my leg locked up immediately as a bullet from a 9mm pistol ripped through my spinal cord instantly paralyzing me from the waist down. Broken, lost, and scared I sat in the hospital bed not knowing what my next move was.
After eight days, I was released from the hospital where I invested everything I had within me into therapy. After a few months went by, I met another wheelchair uses by the name of François we began to talk and he began to share his experiences being in a chair. He went on to tell me about his girlfriend, his car that he drove independently, and how he lived his day to day life. Francois gave me hope, he showed me the light. The next week I was online trying to buy hand controls and figure out how I could drive and be independent. After some time went by I began to thank Francois for all his help and advice I also explained to him how important it is that we do for others what he did for me hence the founding of The Wheelchairgang where we promote positivity amongst wheelchair users encouraging them to live a boundless life!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road some of the hardest things to deal with is the pain associated with being paralyzed (nerve pain). The realization of losing so many friends you used to be so close with. But through all my struggles, I’ve learned to take things day by day moment by moment. Through this ugly situation, I’ve received so many blessings. All in all, if I had a chance to take it back, I wouldn’t take none of it back. This situation has changed my outlook on life it has great me a great appreciation for life and put the important things in life into perspective for me.
Please tell us about The Wheelchair Gang.
My business wheelchair gang we promote positivity amongst wheelchair user encouraging them to live a boundless life. I encourage wheelchair users to drive, travel, date, amongst many other things people think we can’t do because we are bound to a wheelchair. The thing I’m most proud of is being able to help others in similar situations as me. It’s a great feeling when people in my situation reach out telling me how inspiring I am. It’s really humbling because I started out just trying to find a way for myself and in doing that, I’ve inspired many people. I think what sets me apart from others is that I don’t try and inspire people I don’t wake up and say ok who can I inspire. I simply just live my life and it’s a true beauty when people admire and are inspired just from you being you.
My other brand is called Walking Rich and this brand goes hand and hand with my therapy practices my biggest goal in life is to walk again and since my name is Rich hence the name WalkingRich for me I’m walking rich with perseverance but my brand is a brand designed for the individual everyone has their own walk to walk so whatever walking rich is to you is the meaning of my brand, whether your WalkingRich with perseverance like myself or you choose to actually walk rich with things of monetary value, you can be WalkingRich with knowledge, love, to each its own, walk your walk!
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory from my childhood would be roller skating and riding mini bikes/mopeds. Those are two things I haven’t been able to get back into since my injury but they are definitely on my list. These were two passions I shared with my friends growing up and often times we reflect on those times reminiscing how things were so much different before. Then we began to talk about how everything has come Full Circle with my brands and my life, it’s almost like everything I’ve ever wanted has been placed before me. But I feel like it has a lot to do with my situation and me being shot.
Contact Info:
- Website: Wheelchairgang.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @Thericharddahl / @thewheelchairgang / @walkingrich
- Facebook: The wheelchair gang
- Other: Google walking rich
Image Credit:
Armani Smith Photography
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