Redefining accessibility as a cooperative effort: We Carry Kevan teams up with Deuter to create WCK Pack
Custom carrier allows able bodied and disabled to share new adventures together
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LONGMONT, Colorado – Diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, Kevan Chandler longed to explore the world, and all the places where wheelchairs couldn’t take him. With the help of six friends and a partnership with German pack maker, Deuter, Kevan set out on the adventure of a lifetime, a tour of Europe, in 2016. Now, Kevan and his friends are bringing the pack that helped make it possible to others who thirst for adventure.
We Carry Kevan is a global team of able-bodied and disabled people working together to fulfil one another’s dreams. In collaboration with Deuter, they have designed the WCK Pack to help the able-bodied share otherwise inaccessible experiences with disabled individuals.
“What Kevan and his friends have done took a lot of adventurous spirit and ingenuity,” said Deuter President, Bill Hartrampf. “At Deuter we believe in the power of outdoor adventure and the intrinsic value of travel, and we couldn’t be happier to be involved.”
The WCK Pack is a production version of the modified Deuter carrier the We Carry Kevan team used in its 2016 tour of Europe. It is designed for people with disabilities to go where wheelchairs cannot, with the help of friends and family.
The WCK Pack is available for pre-order and expected to ship July 2019. The quantity is limited, so place your order now. The pack features an adjustable Deuter back system for the carrier and a height-adjustable seat and harness for the rider. Wide open side entry allows the rider easy access to the seat. A removable chest pad, adjustable stirrups and wrist cuffs enhance comfort and security for the rider. An external mesh pocket and two front pockets carry all the essentials. The WCK Pack’s total load limit is 70 pounds.
We Carry Kevan mobilizes people with disabilities by redefining accessibility as a cooperative effort. The team has traveled in France, Ireland, the UK and China, showing the enormous potential of friendship and creativity in the face of otherwise limiting circumstances.
With 121 years of pack building experience, Deuter has played a vital role in mountaineering history: Deuter backpacks have proved their worth under extreme conditions on numerous expeditions, from the first ascent of the north face of the Eiger by Anderl Heckmair in 1938, to the 8,000-meter peak climbs of Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner today. Among its numerous innovations, the Aircomfort system was the first ventilated tensioned mesh back system, the first bike-specific backpack and a complete women’s range – all details of the SL packs are engineered for the female anatomy. From backpacking to bike commuting, from alpinism to travel and including an entire child-carrying and family line, Deuter creates a better and more comfortable pack. For more information, visit www.deuter.com. For additional media information, contact Chris Hrenko at Pale Morning Media, chris@palemorning.com, (802) 496-6092.
