Fundraising campaign to design and build a bike for Orcas’ own Jordan Griffin
Jordan Griffin
Jordan Griffin, a paraplegic since a snowboarding accident on Orcas Island in 2007, loves extreme sports.
Spencer Sare, an Orcas friend of Jordan’s, has started a fundraising campaign, “along with a team of four Washington State University senior mechanical engineering students [to] design a four-wheeled full suspension mountain bike specialized for paraplegics. Since each paraplegic has specific needs, we will need to tailor this bike specifically to Jordan.
“After seeing how Jordan’s spinal cord injury has affected him, it is apparent that nothing about him mentally has changed. His passion for extreme sports is still fully intact, but cannot be acted upon due to the lack of available equipment. For the past six years, Jordan has been unable to participate in any high adrenaline sport.
“With this project, Jordan will no longer be constrained to his bed or wheelchair, and will be reunited with the thrill of mountain biking. Ideally, this project will inspire more innovations in the extreme sports industry so that people with disabilities can once again pursue the passions they once enjoyed.
“Throughout the design process we will focus on how to add simple features to facilitate different configurations and adjustments. This will allow for mass manufacturing since direct customization will be unnecessary, and would grant access for everyone to get out and enjoy life at high speeds.”
The Orcas community can support Jordan and the young design team by participating in the GoFundMe campaign to raise $6,700 to design and build a four-wheeled full suspension mountain bike specialized for paraplegics.
You can give in any amount, anonymously if you wish, or named — it all helps.
For more information and to donate, go to https://www.gofundme.com/fourcrossjordan
A wonderful idea. And remember every little bit helps.