O'Ree on the AT (Appalachian Trail)

O'Ree at work

We're raising money for O'Ree Crittenden. He was an avid outdoorsman until he broke his neck in 2001. O'Ree was trying to help retrieve a kite for a boy when he jumped into some water and had his accident. He spent one year in the hospital. He then returned to college in 2002 and graduated in 2005. He currently lives by himself and works for Access 2 Independence in Columbus Georgia.

This past Christmas O'Ree asked his friend Lee Griffith, who is an avid Appalachain Trail hiker, if Lee could help get him get out on the trail. 

After researching several options, Lee found a trail ready wheel chair.  We will need to purchase this specialized piece of equipment as well as other gear for the team.


This piece of equipment has one wheel and handles on the front & rear in order for O'Ree to get some assistance from a team to help him experience an 80 mile Georgia section of the Appalachian Trail.

Our goal is to get O'Ree out on the trail this summer. Which means we need this money in the next 45 days. We need to be able to purchase this equipment and organize some practice hikes to get the kinks worked out before we really hit the trail.

I've known O'Ree for several years and have always wanted to help him get back in touch with nature.  And now that he has actually asked, I feel more committed to make it come to fruition. Once O'Ree has finished his journey on the AT we will continue to let others use this specialized equipment so they too can get back to nature. Visit his facebook page at facebook.com/ORee480.

Lee Griffith & O'Ree Crittenden

Here's a note from Lee Griffith:
Dear FB friends. A number of you have followed my family's adventures and backpacking trips over the years. One of the people that has constantly commented on our pictures is a high school band mate of mine O'ree Crittenden. As some of you may or may not have known O'ree was an avid outdoorsman and had a goal to thru hike the Appalachian Trail one day. Unfortunately, while trying to recover a rogue kite for a kid in Florida, O'ree sustained a spinal cord injury that has changed not only O'ree's plans to hike the AT, but his life overall. If you are fortunate enough to know O'ree in person, you know he has a very positive attitude and a nothing is going to stop me perseverance about life. I've been fortunate enough to know O'ree prior to his injury and after his injury and the one thing that is obvious is O'ree hasn't changed except in his physical posture. Over the years O'ree's comments about how much he missed being on a trail and how much he loved the outdoors has haunted me. Two years ago I began talking to Chad Pepper about getting O'ree back on the trail. Well the final straw that pushed me into action took place this past December. O'ree himself texted me and asked me "can you help me get back out on a trail?" Without hesitation I not only told him yes, but promised him that it would happen. And it will. But I need some help also. Chad, O'ree and myself are determined to make this dream of O'ree's happen. We have found a chair that is designed for backcountry travel and will definitely serve the purpose. But it is not cheap. We need your help with what ever you are able or willing to chip in to get the gear and chair for O'ree to make this happen. Once we accomplish the goal of a Georgia AT section hike this summer with O'ree, we plan to offer the use of the chair to other persons to experience local and backcountry adventures. Please go to the Gofundme link in the page below and contribute anything you can. Thank you, Lee Grifith