David's Chair
The origin story of David’s Chair
In January of 2017, David Hartrick was officially diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. ALS destroys upper and lower motor neurons, which are the cells that send messages from your brain to your muscles. Eventually, your muscles atrophy and you lose the ability to walk.
Because David was an avid outdoorsman, he was determined to continue doing the things he loved—hunting, fishing, and hiking. The answer was a “track chair,” an all-terrain tank with a chair on top.
The $20,000 price tag was a problem, but with the help of a fundraiser with some incredible friends, David was able to afford a chair that he would donate to others once he could no longer use it. That’s when David’s Chair was born, on June 29th, 2017.
Casey Moore, a David’s Chair Board Member, tells his story
“The first time I ever used David’s Chair was up at Prospect (Oregon) in the snow, I went up there with my wife and son and got out there and got to cruise through the snow. You just don’t understand unless you’re not able to do it, and you’re stuck watching from the parking lot. I get to go out on the beach and go on all these fun excursions and get to include my son in all these things he wouldn’t be able to get to do with me without one of these chairs. We want to make it easy for people to borrow one of these chairs to go on their own adventure.”
David’s Chair arrives in Westport, Washington
David’s Chair now offers chairs in 13 locations in Oregon, Washington, and Texas.
In the summer of 2024, the chair arrived in Westport, Washington, brought to the community by The City of Westport, the Maritime Museum, and the Westport South Beach Historical Society. The chair is free for anyone to use, and volunteers manage getting it to and from the beach.
In 2024, John Shaw, Executive Director of the Westport South Beach Historical Society told Seattle’s King5, “Bringing the wheelchairs for beach access was really part of a mobility project for the Historical Society and the City, and it's become a popular topic to encourage outdoor mobility. It's a feel-good thing for this town."
Track chairs are amazing on the beach—their tank-like rubber tracks spread the chair’s weight and keep it from sinking into the loose, dry sand that stops regular wheelchairs. It can even handle entering the shallow water at the shore.
There’s no disputing the physical, mental and social benefits of being at the beach with friends and family; the fresh air and sunlight, the stress relief, and the sense of belonging that comes from simple inclusive connections.
These are the things that Samantha Loper, a David’s Chair user, benefitted from. “It’s opened my eyes - you can actually get out in the world and do the things you used to be able to do. It’s nice to be able to get down on the beach with my family instead of sitting on the sidelines.”
How to access David’s Chair in Westport
David’s Chair is available free of charge and must be reserved through their website. Simply choose the date you’d like to use the chair (available Thursday-Monday), select a time range and input your information. Advance reservations are required, with a recommendation of seven days lead time up to your desired usage date. David’s Chair can be picked up or accessed at Westport by The Sea Condos on the day of your reservation.
Everyone deserves access to Westport’s beautiful beaches. We’re proud and happy to be able to offer this service to our visitors with mobility challenges.
Want to donate to the David’s Chair Endowment Fund? Visit their website.
And as always, if you’re looking to plan your next visit to Westport, visit our site at ExperienceWestport.com to find activity ideas, lodging, dining, and more!