GRIT recently had the great pleasure of interviewing Cecil Williams, a GRIT Freedom Chair user, adaptive athlete, disability advocate, motivational speaker, half-marathoner, OCR finisher, and more.
In 2003, Cecil was diagnosed with Ataxia. He may get around differently than he used to, but with equipment like the GRIT Freedom Chair, the help of some tremendous organizations, and his own, undeterred drive for movement and adventure, Cecil is “Moving Beyond” in every sense of the term.
Continue reading for the full interview.
GRIT: Thank you, Cecil, for being here. I’d love to start from the beginning of our story together: What had you initially looking for an all-terrain wheelchair like the GRIT Freedom Chair?
Cecil Williams: I wanted to experience life, go hiking, tackle trails—anything you can think of. I even thought about doing a Tough Mudder. The first time I saw the GRIT Freedom Chair, I thought, I gotta get me one.
GRIT: Heck yeah. So when did you get a chance to actually ride a GRIT Freedom Chair?
Cecil Williams: I saw it in Alabama, at a camp for people with disabilities. They were holding an adventure skills workshop there.
“I’m more active now than I ever was before. I pursue opportunities to travel and participate in various events. I don’t take anything for granted.”
GRIT: Before that camp experience, were you using any equipment to get around? Were you using a wheelchair at that point?
Cecil Williams: I used to go hiking with a walker. You can imagine how difficult that was. So, I was looking for a better way to hike.
GRIT: How would you compare the difference between hiking with a walker and hiking with a GRIT chair?
Cecil Williams: With the GRIT chair, I do not have to worry about falling. I feel more stable and in-control, and I am able to move by myself. It really does give me a sense of freedom. Using a walker is difficult and puts a lot of strain on my bones and muscles. The GRIT Freedom Chair was much better.
GRIT: How would you describe the kinds of hikes you typically go on?
Cecil Williams: I first started using my GRIT chair on flat trails, and then slowly began hiking more challenging trails. Eventually, I transitioned to doing Tough Mudder events. Races like that are at a whole different level, and I had to build up to it slowly.
GRIT: How did you hear about Tough Mudder and what made you decide to do it?
Cecil Williams: My friends call me “The Adventure-Seeking Adrenaline Junkie.” When I finish one adventure, I’m ready for the next one. I got introduced to adaptive sports in 2018—scuba diving, skiing, hiking, racing—I’ve done it all. I decided to do Tough Mudder because of my involvement in the Resilience Movement, fitness, and the adaptive training gym I go to. After learning about the races, I said, “Let’s do it.”
GRIT: No hesitation, huh?
Cecil Williams: You have one life, and you want to live it fully…at least I do. Sometimes you have to adapt, but it’s about seeing what you’ve got and making it work.
GRIT: I think that captures what obstacle course racing is all about—that, even if you don’t 100% know what’s around the corner, you know you’ll figure out a way to get through it. Can you talk a bit about how you and your team worked together to get through the twists and turns of the Tough Mudder?
“We communicated well, which was crucial in those moments. We had one person at the front of the chair, pulling with a rope, one or two people pushing from behind, and me in the chair. We all worked together through the tough sections of the trail.”
Cecil Williams: We had a good feeling about it. We went along the trail, encountered hills, and hit obstacles. Sometimes we would choose to take on an obstacle and sometimes we’d go around it, but my motto whenever possible was, “Let’s do it.”
There were times when I wasn’t great at an obstacle, but I would try and keep going anyway. One of my favorite obstacles was what they call the “Arctic Enema,” where you get into 35-degree water, go under, come up, and then go under again. There was another obstacle where I had to get out of the chair and crawl underneath a black net through the mud. It was intense but exhilarating.
GRIT: Haha, what a name! Both of these obstacles sound like so much fun.
Cecil Williams: Exactly. The people at the race helped me a lot. There were three other adaptive athletes. For each athlete, there was a group of people helping out. One group was from More Hearts Than Scars and others were volunteers.
GRIT: Nice. How was it working with that group of people, navigating through the terrain, slope changes, and various twists and turns of the race? How was the communication between everybody as you navigated the course?
Cecil Williams: Communication was key. We had to figure out the best way to get through…especially when going up hills. It required a lot of focus and teamwork. We communicated well, which was crucial in those moments. We had one person at the front of the chair, pulling with a rope, one or two people pushing from behind, and me in the chair. We all worked together through the tough sections of the trail.
GRIT: Was there any moment where this communication was particularly important?
Cecil Williams: Going from level pavement to uphill terrain took a lot of focus and communication. It wasn’t easy, and we figured it out together. I trained for it, but having a great team made all the difference.
“At the beginning, I struggled to accept my disability. A lot of people with disabilities do. But, little by little, I decided to try new things. Kayaking, cycling, living fully. I realized I was missing out on so much.”
GRIT: What did you do to prepare and train for the race?
Cecil Williams: Since December 2023, I’ve been working out at the gym. I’ve been lifting weights, working on core exercises, lifting kettlebells, doing pushups. I work out at The Resilience Movement Fitness and Adaptive Training. They provide functional fitness for all abilities and adaptability. You have to move your body in the best way that you can.
GRIT: Can you tell us about the early days after your accident?
Cecil Williams: I was in a hit-and-run car wreck on May 9, 2003. It affected my whole life. I didn’t see the car. They tried to get over into the turning lane and hit me. I fractured my left wrist and, later on, my hand specialist thought I was dealing with carpal tunnel. They then found peripheral neuropathy in 2004. After that, I started to experience different issues—I was losing my balance, my fine motor skills, and my speech. They then diagnosed me with ataxia.
Cecil Williams: At the beginning, I struggled to accept my disability. A lot of people with disabilities do. But, little by little, I decided to try new things. Kayaking, cycling, living fully. I realized I was missing out on so much.
GRIT: That had to be so tough.
Cecil Williams: It’s just my story.
GRIT: It seems to be a story both unique to you and shared by so many others, too.
Cecil Williams: Exactly. Before long, people were telling me I was inspiring them and showing them what’s possible. I wanted to see how far I could go. I was always trying to be active and find a group of people to do it with.
GRIT: Has your perspective (on anything) changed since your accident?
Cecil Williams: Most definitely. I have a greater appreciation for life, post-injury. I’m more active now than I ever was before. I pursue opportunities to travel and participate in various events. I don’t take anything for granted.
GRIT: What gear or equipment do you use for your adventures?
Cecil Williams: I have a variety of equipment, depending on the activity. I have my mobility devices, a walker, my GRIT chair, a handcycle, a Catrike, and my manual wheelchair. It might take me a little longer sometimes, but I’ll do what I want. I’m determined to enjoy my life. And, when people see you trying, they’re more willing to help.
GRIT: That is a great point. Is it ever difficult to accept assistance from others? How has your experience been with that?
Cecil Williams: For me, as someone with a physical disability, I value my independence. I appreciate when people offer help before jumping in. I know what I want and how to get it done. Over time, I’ve become more open to receiving help. But it’s important to communicate with the person you’re helping.
GRIT: Absolutely. When selecting accessories for their GRIT chairs, some folks prefer to not include the push handles on their GRIT chairs, so people can’t come up and start pushing without warning the rider.
Cecil Williams: Exactly. When helping a person with a disability, you can potentially cause more harm than help. For example, opening a door for someone can cause them to lose their balance.
“I have a variety of equipment, depending on the activity. I have my mobility devices, a walker, my GRIT chair, and a transport chair. It might take me a little longer sometimes, but I’ll do what I want. I’m determined to enjoy my life.”
GRIT: That is so true. So what’s next for you, Cecil? Any new adventures on the radar?
Cecil Williams: I started participating in adaptive sports six years ago, when I was thirty-four years old—it had been ten years since I’d become permanently physically disabled. Since then, I have been blessed to do almost everything I’ve always wanted to do. I want to maintain the relationships I’ve built and continue participating in events. I want to help other adaptive athletes. I’ve gone from being solely an athlete to being an athlete and an advocate. I want to impact others by creating opportunities and raising awareness. I plan to do more adaptive surfing this summer. I want to inspire others and show them what is possible.
Cecil would like to thank the following individuals and organizations for their support: Michael Barnhill of SpecialistID, Inc.; Cassidy Tennille Lay, Adaptive Fitness Coach at Resilience Movement Fitness and Adaptive Training; Jesse Gaylor; Samaria White; the Giving Grasshoppers; Elizabeth Lukancich and More Hears Than Scars; Life Rolls On; Dare2tri; Sports, Arts, and Recreations of Chattanooga, TN (SPARC) Chapter of Move United; Catalyst Sports; Shepherd Center; Vermont Adaptive; The Kyle Pease Foundation; and Achilles Nashville. You can follow Cecil on his website, here; on Facebook, here; and on his Instagram, here.