South Padre Island, ValleyCentral — Captain Tim Lippold was paraplegic after an accident six years ago. He currently has limited movement below his waist.
A resident of South Padre Island, he has spent most of his life as a boat captain, but his career is just a memory.
But now he’s the captain again.
And his story is a heartwarming tale of two friends who, like Lippold himself, help other people with medical disabilities live life on the water.
“You start thinking, ‘I can’t, I can’t, I can’t do this anymore. I can’t do this. That’s why I named this boat ICAN,'” said Shane, founder of Future of Fishing. Mr Wilson said.
Wilson and Lippold began as strangers who had a casual encounter on the street one day. Small chatter turned into big dreams and even bigger realities.
Fishing’s future mission is to spread the love of fishing while teaching families to connect and spend time with each other.With the ICAN initiative, they have taken that mission a step further.
And he said, what do you mean, you need me, I’m in a wheelchair and it’s like, no, I need you Come on, here’s my business card, come to my house, I’ve got something with your help, we can make it happen,” Wilson said. . “And then he came to my house and set a vision that he wanted to do what he wanted to do. His zest for life is contagious.”
Lippold now captains ICAN, a boat rebuilt to help those in need of mobility get back on the water, motivating people like him to see what a boat can do. is attached.
Lippold is one of only four captains in the country to qualify for paraplegia.
“My goal is to walk again. I may walk with crutches or a brace, but I will walk again,” Rippold said. “And it’s hard to keep that attitude. But you know, we’re especially around Shane. It’s easy, because he’s so motivated. He motivates me. So I continue therapy.I met Shane and what do you know?This is the best thing.”
The boat is designed to be wheelchair and scooter accessible and has access to medical beds. The ICAN has been modified to raise the railings and open up the floor plan. What makes ICAN so unique is the permanent lift just behind the Captain’s Station.
The purpose of this mechanism is to lower the individual into the water so that they can once again experience the freedom of water play.
“I’d love to see other people’s reactions,” Rippold said. “I cry all the time on the ship. I go with my parents. I cry like a little baby. I see my sons feet touching the water.” he’s just going crazy..and dad is catching them and mom and taking pictures..in fact my heart is soaking wet but that’s great..
