From crossing the Alps to controlling mobility with the mind, people who use wheelchairs are pushing boundaries and rewriting what’s possible. In July 2025, Ben Spencer and Peter Smorthit became the first to cross the Alps in wheelchairs, while Tristin Froma gained independence through groundbreaking mind-controlled wheelchair technology developed in Alberta. Other inspiring stories include Emma Daniels’ viral journey to stand again after years of misdiagnosis and Harald’s jaw-dropping wheelchair stunts that defy physical limits.
Recent stories highlighting the capabilities of people who use wheelchairs include Ben Spencer and Peter Smorthit, who became the first to cross the Alps in wheelchairs in July 2025, and Tristin Froma, a young man with cerebral palsy who is using mind-controlled wheelchair technology developed by a University of Alberta research team. Another inspiring story is that of Emma Daniels, who, after years of living with a misdiagnosed illness, shared a viral video of her journey to standing independently from her wheelchair.
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In July 2025, Ben Spencer and Peter Smorthit completed an 18-day, 422-kilometer journey across the Alps in their wheelchairs, becoming the first to do so. The journey involved navigating intense heat, brutal gradients, and a difficult uphill climb where Smorthit had to drag himself and his wheelchair for over a kilometer.
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Tristin Froma, a young man with cerebral palsy, is using cutting-edge technology that allows him to control his wheelchair with his mind. Researchers at the Glenrose Hospital and the University of Alberta developed the software, which links his brain signals to the wheelchair through a headset, enabling greater independence.
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In a viral video shared in late 2024, Emma Daniels documented her incredible journey to standing up from her wheelchair without assistance. After years of misdiagnosis, doctors identified Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) as the cause of her condition, and she shared her powerful progress in the video.
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In March 2025, Harald made headlines for performing amazing stunts in his wheelchair, including climbing a mountain, doing pull-ups under a hovering helicopter, and working out on top of a speeding truck. His feats demonstrate remarkable physical strength and defying perceived limitations.