U.S. Army Veteran Helps Fellow Harley Riders with Wheelchair Program
Nothing gets between a true rider and his Harley. Vet’s WheelCharrier program now helping riders at over 175 dealerships.
Harley-Davidson and the United States Armed Forces have a bond unlike any other. From the beginning of the MoCo, the two entities have fought together on the battlefield, and rode together in peace. For many, the roar of V-Twins is embodies what it means to live and ride free.
For one veteran, freedom comes in the form of a wheelchair at his Harley dealership. Las Vegas NBC affiliate KSNV-TV has the story of one veteran, United States Army Lieutenant Dan Holman, and his effort to improve the lives of disabled Harley riders, like himself.
“My first name is Dan. I was an officer in the Army,” said Holman. The officer lost his legs on the battlefield years ago, but never his love of riding. Holman’s current Harley is a trike with hand controls, which gives him all the control and freedom he he could want.
Riding wasn’t the issue for Holman. It was trips to his local dealership, Red Rock Harley-Davidson that limited his freedom.
“I had to go from the service department, to the customer waiting area on crutches all the time,” Holman said. “When you do it on crutches, with no legs, it gets very demanding.”
Without the ability to haul his wheelchair on the Harley, Holman traveled 900 feet to and from the dealership on his crutches. Thus, he pitched an idea to the management of Red Rock. The solution was a simple one.
“I asked the general manager if I could bring him in a wheelchair,” said Holman
From that one act, Holman’s WheelCharrier program was born. The program has expanded to over 175 Harley dealerships across the country making trips to Harley dealerships much easier for anyone with a disability.
“If they need to use [a wheelchair] one of our service managers or our service writers will wheel it out to them, to help them out of their cars,” said Red Rock marketing director Samantha Cashman. “And then to take them around the store,”
Holman delivers the wheelchairs himself to each Harley dealership, every wheelchair donated by non-profits. His goal is to bring the program to all 750 Harley dealerships in the country, and make sure that nothing stands between a Harley lover and the road.
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