DRIVEN: "Some tricks I have spent up to ten years working on before I was able to land it. You first start dreaming about it and then you try it and try it and you keep failing. I just think that means that the ones that take forever to land are just that much better."

WHEELZ: THE INTERVIEW

I saw Wheelz on America's Got Talent: Extreme and knew his story would be a wonderful addition to the May issue. I am thrilled to have had the opportunity, via zoom, to interview Wheelz who was personable, positive, open, humble, very inspiring, and had a good sense of humor,

Faye Simon: How did you get the name "Wheelz"?

Aaron Fotheringham: Friends in middle school called me Wheelies. Then they started calling me Wheels. It stuck but I added the Z.

FS: Do you prefer to be called Aaron or Wheelz?

AF: Wheelz for the most part – only my Mom calls me Aaron.

FS: What does your wife call you?

AF: She calls me "Babe" or "Honey."

FS: Who are the people in your life that have given you the most inspiration and support throughout your journey?

AF: I got a lot of inspiration from watching BMX riders and action sports in general. There was something about seeing pro BMX riders and pro skateboarders do these tricks that one would think would be impossible, but somehow, they would end up pulling them off. Some would get hurt, but they would push themselves and pull off these huge tricks. For me seeing that at a young age helped push me and let me know there really are no limitations.

And to marry my wife… super supportive and loving. She coaches me and pushes me to be my better self.

FS: What gave you the idea and courage to do these amazing tricks even though you were in a wheel chair?

AF: I didn't think "even though I am in a wheel chair." It was "I have this wheelchair." It wasn't like a ball and chain. It was an advantage almost. I saw it as I can go fast everywhere. Like going through an airport, no one is faster than me.

FS: Throughout your journey, what was your family's reaction? Were they supportive, terrified?

AF: My family is awesome. Early on they knew they needed to let me do what I loved to do. They did whatever they could to support me in that. For a while, it was pretty expensive to buy me wheel chair parts, and they still did that and everything they could to support me in the skatepark scene. A huge blessing.

FS: What kind of training do you do to keep your upper body in shape and to deal with this kind of punishment?

"Having a wheelchair was an advantage. Like going through an airport, no one is faster than me."

AF: When I am back home, I go to the gym every day and go to the skatepark. When I ride the tall Nitro Circus ramp it has got stairs all up the side. So, when I am there, I carry myself up one stair at a time. It's quite a workout. But it is like I am working out and having fun. I sit on one stair and do like shrugs all the way up.

FS: What is the design process and who do you work with to design and build your performance wheelchairs?

From the time I was nine until right before Covid, I had a good friend of mine build my chairs. He is basically like a father, mentor to me. I met him when I was nine. His name is Mike, who owns a company called Box Wheelchairs. He has been teaching me all along how to build wheelchairs and metal fabrication that goes into it. So, for two or three years I have been building my own chairs. I am super grateful to him for teaching me everything. I am thinking of possibly having my own wheelchair business.