PITTSFIELD, Maine — Twelve-year-old Kellan Tilton wanted to join his school’s golf team. However, his wheelchair limited his opportunity to get on the greens.
Tilton, of Detroit, is permanently paralyzed after a cancerous tumor grew on his spine as a baby. Since he beat cancer, he and his family have been advocating for children with disabilities to have equal access to activities.
One day, Tilton came home telling his parents he signed up for the school’s golf team. He said his parents immediately reached out to organizations like Stand Up and Play and Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation to make his goal a reality.
With the help of both organizations, Tilton hits the greens every week to practice his swing. Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation purchased two VertaCat adaptive golf carts to overcome barriers for people living with disabilities or injuries.
“It makes me really happy that I can come out here and not just be some kid that uses a wheelchair and is sitting at home,” Tilton said.
Equipment like the VertaCat cart is life-changing for people who have limitations, Brandon Merry, a senior program manager at Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation, said.
“This is really top-notch, modernized equipment that really is taking it to the next level and allowing players to really get out there and focus on the golf and not on the disability or injury,” Merry said.
The adaptive cart has a joystick, which allows Kellan to move around, and a button that adjusts him into a supportive upright position, allowing him to have a natural golf swing.
“It’s just been life-changing for so many so far,” Merry said.
The two adaptive golf carts travel around to a few different courses in Maine, like J.W. Parks Golf Course in Pittsfield and Toddy Brook Golf Course in Yarmouth, Merry said.
“They’ve pushed me to do stuff that’s a little out of my comfort zone,” Tilton said. “It’s just really fun to have a group that will help me do pretty much anything that’s possible.”