My Project

I AM RAISING CAPITAL TO START A RETAIL SALES business to sell recumbent trikes with a focus on the disabled and mobility challenged community on Long Island, NY and surrounding area.

In 2009 I was diagnosed with a serious debilitating illness, MS. From that time my life retreated. I became very sick and unable to work. I began an intense regimen of months and months and years of physical therapy and various alternative treatment options. I got better. In the meantime I lost my house, went through a bankruptcy and lost my mobility, not necessarily in that order. It was difficult to walk even a few feet and I was constantly stumbling and losing my balance. Fortunately I didn’t fall, much. For those who are familiar with this disease these are common symptoms. The good news is my condition is better, my mind is sharp, and I am in relatively little pain.

MY STORY–HOW I GOT MY LIFE BACK:

So, from the day that I was told I have MS, my life has been drastically different. I had, up until that time, been able to work and was very active–enjoying swimming, running, bike riding, hiking and various other outdoor activities. My illness brought such activities to a screeching halt. Even the simplest tasks became very difficult. I found it a struggle to even walk down the hall to the bathroom or to walk to the corner to get the mail. Just to get through the day was a challenge.

However I was determined to NOT let my illness define me. I fought back. A long story short. I went through many years of physical therapy, acupuncture, meditation, and various nutrition programs to be able to get some semblance of functionality restored. I still have a long way to go. I am very grateful to be doing as well as I am.

Last summer I started thinking about how to “get mobile”. I missed the opportunity to get out in my neighborhood, meet my neighbors, and experience the fresh air and beautiful scenery. Being from Long Island, I missed the strolls along the boardwalks of our beautiful beaches. Then I discovered the world of recumbent trikes.

I had seen “guys riding around” in some sort of weird bicycle but I really didn’t know what “they” were. They looked like some kind of “exotic pedaling car” or something from another planet. They looked “hard to ride” and for someone with limited mobility and reduced leg strength…impossible. But they looked so cool! I wondered to myself, “could I actually pedal one of “those things”?

I began to do research online and learned more about the “world of recumbent trikes”. I watched videos and researched companies. Then I wanted to try one to “see” (feel) if I could–actually ride/pedal one. Honestly, it was even difficult to FIND a bike shop that had any type of recumbent trike in their showrooms/shops. But I was undaunted.

Eventually I found a shop in my local area, that had one in stock. As soon as I saw it, it was “love at first

sight”. But could I actually “sit in it”? It was so low and sleek, dare I say-sexy? And if I could sit in it– could I actually pedal it? Well (as you know) the answer(s) were YES, and YES!

After my initial “test ride” I knew “this baby was coming home with me”. And it did! I have been enjoying beautiful precious MOBILITY once again. A recumbent trike is a machine that is so amazing and EASY to ride for someone like myself with a disability. When I ride it around the neighborhood and the boardwalks so many people stop and ask me, “what is that”? And “is it comfortable and easy to pedal’? They are amazed when I explain what it is and answer, “YES!” to both questions. And they were even more amazed when they learned I was—disabled, and that I had MS!

I am so grateful to have found my trike! I have been riding it now for several months and each day gets more special because I have my freedom again and there is no price to put on that. I have been so profoundly impacted by my “liberation” that I want to help others to have that experience.

I am now in the process of setting up a company to sell recumbent trikes and my focus will be on the disabled and mobility challenged community. Surprisingly, there doesn’t seem to be that much awareness of recumbent trikes for the disabled, at least not in my area.

Whenever I am out riding I always find myself talking to folks with “disability issues” who are amazed that I can pedal this and want to know “what it is” and where I got it. I believe that there is great potential for recumbent trikes in this market. People with disabilities deserve to have “options” and to be “enabled” and enjoy the best that life has to offer…and the opportunity to get out and “get mobile” on their own power.

So…that is my story.

NOW I am looking for kind hearted souls with an entrepreneurial spirit to help me create the start-up capital necessary to build up the business known as “Gregs Mobility Project”. I will be focused on introducing the Long Island market to the world of recumbent trikes and especially reaching out to the disabled and those with mobility issues, in the community, to enable them to…GET THEIR MOBILITY BACK.

My goal is to raise $40,000 over a six month period. This money will be used to cover reasonable start-up costs and expenses for rent on a retail location, to set-up the store and to purchase trikes and accessories. I am especially looking for, those who are able, to become founding “angel partners” in this venture with me and to donate $500-$1000 or more–and to pray for me and help me succeed in this venture. It would mean so much to know that you are “with me” and encouraging me each step of the way. Of course, any and all support will be greatly appreciated. As I opened this brief story, I told you that up to this point, since my illness, I felt that in my life, had been “retreating”. In 2015 I have made a determination to “advance”.

I believe God has opened many doors already in this venture. I have secured a location and will begin operation in the beginning of May. I already have an “angel investor” who is standing with me and has offered several thousand dollars to advance “Gregs Mobility Project”. Please consider a generous donation to support this venture. God Bless you.

Gregory Davis

Funds for “Greg’s Mobility Project” http://www.gofundme.com/mnbitw