The Story of Dave Harrison

Dave Harrison has been a Peer Support Volunteer for the past six years. In the summer of 1987, Dave was involved in a very serious motor vehicle accident and he severely damaged his spinal cord at T 8, leaving him paralyzed from his waist down among other injuries. This dramatically changed his life in ways he couldn't have imagined. Going through rehabilitation was probably one of the toughest challenges he had in life but a challenge he had to endure if he wanted to live as independently as possible. Dave remained an extremely positive individual even after months in hospital and rehabilitation adjusting to life in a wheelchair. Dave has lived life to the fullest regardless of what barriers and limitations that may be in his way. Dave realized that there was still a lot of living left to do. Dave had always been a very active individual before his injury with interests in sport fishing, customizing vehicles, race cars and motorcycles. Dave did not let his injury deter him from doing any of those things that he loved to do. He decided to go back to school and become a motorcycle mechanic. To achieve the best training possible he attended one of the finest schools in the motorcycle trade in Daytona Beach. Dave left for Florida and lived there independently for a year. Once in school he studied and worked very hard and he became a fully licensed motorcycle mechanic despite being a paraplegic. After achieving his goal and becoming a motorcycle mechanic he open and ran his own successful custom motorcycle shop. Dave would always make time to go back to the rehabilitation centre to visit with the friends that he made. Sometimes while visiting he would be asked by the therapists to show some of the newly injured patients some tips and tricks he used to make everyday tasks easier. Dave found helping the new patients move on with their life very rewarding. Even after 20 years with a SCI Dave continues to offer his practical expertise to newly injured patients and health care professionals. Dave is an encouraging role model for everyone he comes in contact with. He has compassion and empathy and a great sense of humour. Dave is always ready and willing to do whatever he can for the organization. Dave has participated in numerous fundraising events such as No Limits Dinner and Wheelchair Relays.