He got his life back: Veteran becomes second Wisconsinite to receive all-terrain motorized chair

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A severe injury can cause someone to lose their independence. For many, regaining it can seem impossible. However, one veteran has been able to overcome his injury -- with the help of a special tool.

That special tool is the Action Track Chair. There are few, if any terrains that can stand in its way.

"Snow, grass, the beaches, county parks, hiking trails -- we have a team in Italy that's going to be climbing a mountain with the chair in a few months," Kelly Schneider said.

For someone who is restricted to a chair, it can open the world to them.

"There`s just nowhere that those tracks can`t take you," Schneider said.

In Troy Worden's case, the Action Track Chair has given him his world back.

"If I gotta go more than 20 or 30 feet, my legs just don`t seem to want to take me that far anymore," Worden said.

Worden joined the U.S. Army in 1999.

Four years later, he was part of the initial push into Iraq. When he was deployed a second time in 2005, he didn't come back the same man.

"I started running into problems where I was tripping over things.  Things as simple as a crack in the sidewalk and come to find out I was developing multiple sclerosis," Worden said.

Worden's condition worsened over time -- leaving him dependent on a motorized chair.

About a month ago, Worden heard of The Independence Fund -- a charity dedicated to putting disabled veterans into the Action Track Chair.

"This fund is just doing amazing things for people," Schneider said.

Schneider is with TSS Equipment -- the Midwest distributor of the chair.

After Worden applied for and was granted the Action Track Chair, it was their job to set him up, and train him.

"We give them a call, we talk to their family, we interview them, find out what chair and accessories are best for them and we handle the delivery from there," Schneider said.

On Day One with his new ride, Worden had already developed a long list of things he wants to do with it.

"My wife and I always loved to go to these different parks and hike down all these nature trails and stuff and then that kind of came to an end -- and I know she`s looking forward to doing a lot more of that again," Worden said.

"This gives us as American people a way that we can say thank you.  We can say to people like Troy, 'go back out, enjoy time with your kids, enjoy time with your family and do it on behalf of the American people,'" Schneider said.

Worden was the second Wisconsinite ever to receive an Action Track Chair.

The Independence Fund has donated nearly 500 chairs throughout the country.

If you know a veteran who might be a candidate for a chair -- CLICK HERE to learn more.