A man who was paralyzed after a bike accident rode his wheelchair 350 miles to promote accessibility

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There's hope. Courtesy Ian Mackay
  • Ian Mackay became paralyzed from the neck down in 2008 after a biking accident.
  • To promote accessibility, he rode his wheelchair 350 miles across the state of Washington.
  • The ride helped him rediscover his love of the outdoors.
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When Ian Mackay became paralyzed from the neck down after a 2008 bicycle accident, he found comfort in riding his wheelchair through Washington state's Olympic Discovery Trail.

“One of the biggest things that helped me rediscover who I was and who I was going to be as a paralyzed man was getting out on our local trails here on the peninsula,” he told INSIDER.

Mackay enjoyed it so much, in fact, that he decided to ride through the entire state to advocate for accessible nature trails.

The result: Ian's Ride, an epic 11-day journey spanning some 350 miles.

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In 2008, Mackay was riding his bike home from UC Santa Cruz when he crashed headfirst into a tree. His helmet broke and he became paralyzed from the neck down.

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Ian Mackay. Courtesy Ian Mackay

“The first few years after that happened were very difficult,” he said. “I think we all define ourselves very physically, whether we like to think so or not, and once we lose our body, once we lose that connection to our arms and our legs, we really have to kind of re-find ourselves.”

He moved to Washington to be with family, and the state’s accessible Olympic Discovery Trail helped him rediscover his love of the outdoors.

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On the road. Courtesy Ian Mackay

“I was a biology student, I spent a lot of time outdoors, I was really into cycling," he said. "To get out there on the trail and hear the birds singing, and meet other people that are just out cruising around was where I found my solace and started to enjoy being out again, enjoy living.”

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Spending time on the Olympic Discovery Trail inspired him to explore even more of the state.

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Riding along the Olympic Discover Trail. Courtesy Ian Mackay

Last year, he put over 2,000 miles on his wheelchair on the trail systems around his home.

“I really wanted to look at Washington state and see how accessible it was for a chair, as far as long-distance riding goes,” Mackay said.

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On the water. Courtesy Ian Mackay

His chair help up through the journey.

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“I'm not a Washington native, so I decided to take my chair from one end to the other.”

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Blue skies. Courtesy Ian Mackay

The journey totalled 350 miles. 

To plan his route, he partnered with Washington Bikes, an organization that advocates for a more bike-friendly state.

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On the open road. Courtesy Ian Mackay

Washington Bikes is a nonprofit based in Seattle.

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“It turns out that myself and bicycles use much of the same paths and thoroughfares,” he said.

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Sharing the road. Courtesy Ian Mackay

If a bike can ride it, Mackay probably can, too.

He enlisted his brother and a few friends to cycle alongside him for visibility along the shoulders of roadways.

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Mackay, left, riding with a friend. Courtesy Ian Mackay

Safety first.

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Local businesses helped sponsor his ride.

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A local business Mackay encountered along the way. Courtesy Ian Mackay

“It was amazing that not only my local community here got behind me, but then the whole bicycle community in Washington state rallied and helped a lot with the planning of the route and fundraising,” he said.

Their support continued throughout the trip. When their bicycles were stolen four days in, community members promptly replaced them.

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Stolen bikes couldn't stop them. Courtesy Ian Mackay

“The bike community and the disabled community were really there for us, and within two hours of us realizing our bikes were stolen we were able to get loaner bikes and continue on our way,” he said.

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Mackay stopped in local breweries along the way, and every single one agreed to sponsor him, too.

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Mackay is a craft beer fan. Courtesy Ian Mackay

“I do really enjoy craft beers, and I figured if I could end each day at one of Washington's micro-breweries, and sample Washington's finest craft beer, that would be all the better,” he said.

Much of their route was on roadways, but Mackay said that drivers were accommodating.

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Drivers supported him, too. Courtesy Ian Mackay

“They all gave me a wide berth, and most of the time gave me cheerful honks and fist pumps out the window,” he said.

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The chair held up surprisingly well.

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For the most part. Courtesy Ian Mackay

“I lost an armrest at one time, which was a bit of a setback, but mainly that's just due to rattling bolts and screws that come loose after 350 miles,” he said.

After 11 days of riding through Washington, Mackay and his crew arrived at Tom McCall Park in Portland, Oregon.

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At the finish line. Courtesy Ian Mackay

“My family was there to greet us and film us, and it was emotional,” he said. “We'd come a long way. It was hard on the body, but we were also happy to have it done, and the experience is definitely something I'll never forget.”

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He hopes to inspire others with physical limitations to continue to do what they love.

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There's hope. Courtesy Ian Mackay

“So many of us with extreme mobility impairments end up being stuck indoors and watching TV all day,” he said. “They don't have to let a disability limit what they do.”

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