Wheels Up! Photo Contest Announces Start Date, Social Campaign

PHOENIX (August 2, 2019)—SPORTS ‘N SPOKES, the sports and recreation magazine of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Abilities Expo and Cure Medical, a manufacturer of intermittent catheters, have joined forces online to host the popular Wheels UP! accessible travel photo contest (formerly known as Get Out Enjoy Life) from Aug. 5-16, 2019.

Now in its’ ninth year, the 2019 Wheels UP! accessible travel event kicks off with a photo contest and prize giveaways for participants. As part of the event, SPORTS ‘N SPOKES, Abilities Expo and Cure Medical social media pages will share daily photos of people who use wheelchairs enjoying accessible vacation spots, outdoors programs and other activities.

The goal of the whole campaign is to encourage thousands of people with disabilities to explore their world through accessible travel and adaptive sports.

“For SPORTS `N SPOKES, the Wheels UP! event is much more than a simple photo contest. It’s a way to bring a community together and encourage people to seek out an active, healthy lifestyle while exploring the world around them. Since 2012, when Lisa Wells and I started ‘Get Out, Enjoy Life,’ one fundamental value has always held true: to always showcase our readers’ limitless spirit of adventure,” said Christopher Di Virgilio, Wheels UP! co-founder and SPORTS ‘N SPOKES web content manager.

“We are thrilled to offer the Wheels UP! accessible travel photo contest to more than 100,000 families served by SPORTS ‘N SPOKES magazine and Abilities Expos, especially wheelchair users throughout the United States and Canada. We hope these deserving families will love Wheels UP! accessible travel resources plus the opportunity to share their own photos as encouragement to others who want to explore their world on wheels,” said Cure Medical CEO John Anderson.

“The Wheels UP! photo contest supports the overall mission of Abilities Expo events in a meaningful, tangible way. The Abilities Expo, whether it is our physical events or community resources online, exists to introduce opportunities that can enrich your life, especially ones that you never knew were out there,” Abilities Expo President & CEO David Korse adds.

View the full program details, rules and contest entry form here.

A team of celebrity judges will choose the winning photos from the Wheels UP! event, lending their unique perspectives and trained eye to the contest. Photo judges include:

• WCMX and Adaptive Surfing Superstar Christiaan “Otter” Bailey
• iPush Foundation director and quadriplegic Chris Malcom
• Ms. Wheelchair California 2005 and Vantage Mobility International (VMI) representative Kristina Rhoades
• Cure Medical founder and former Reeve Foundation Board Member Bob Yant
• Spinal Cord USA community founder Clint Cook
• Abilities Expo host and accessible travel/mobility vehicle expert Julienne Dallara
• Able Outdoors Magazine founder and quadriplegic Chad Waligura

Contest participants may submit photos of related sports activities, family vacations and weekend outings to be considered for one of four grand prizes. Residents of the U.S. and Canada are eligible for prizes.

The Wheels UP! photo contest begins on Aug. 5, 2019 and ends Aug. 16, 2019.

Follow the SPORTS ‘N SPOKES, Abilities Expo and Cure Medical social pages on Facebook and Instagram to join the fun and enter your photo for a chance to win.

Wheels UP! event partners include AMS Vans, At Home Medical, Cure Medical, PVA Publications, Abilities Expo and many other supporters that will be recognized throughout the program.

A free accessible travel guidebook containing updated Wheels UP! destinations by state can be downloaded here.