A Life Full of Adventure
John Thoren does not let his wheelchair keep him from finding adventure.
You can find the 45-year-old Phoenix native, who has cerebral palsy, on the slopes at Arizona Snowbowl participating in adaptive skiing. During the summer, he loves to camp in the forest. And he’s gone on several long-distance road trips using a hand-pedal bike.
“Sometimes I just go out in my electric chair to get from point A to point B,” he said, “and that can be an adventure, because sometimes it’s not really easy to get from A to B.”
When John isn’t enjoying the outdoors, he is a receptionist with Quality Connections, answering phones and performing office work. He also lives in one of the Quality Connections group homes in central Flagstaff.
“John was one of our very first employees,” said Doug Arnett, Chief Communications Officer at Quality Connections. “He’s a really important member of the team.”
John’s penchant for off-road adventures – and the mishaps that sometimes happen when you try to navigate a wheelchair out on the trail – has led to one of John’s two nicknames, Johnny Road Rash. He earned the name in high school and says that people to this day still call him that.
There’s also “Tire Burn,” another moniker that dates back to one of John’s biggest adventures 20 years ago, when he was part of a group traveling some 300 miles from Flagstaff to Albuquerque on hand-pedal bikes to raise money for Goodwill. The week-long fundraiser benefited Goodwill’s club that created a supportive environment for people with physical or developmental disabilities.
“It was a chance to get up and go out and do the things that when you are disabled, you dream about but you really can’t get out and do,” he said. “That organization opened my eyes to what I wanted to do.”
When asked whether he thinks people often underestimate what individuals with disabilities can do, John quickly replied: “Yes, all the time. With the technology available, it’s amazing what we can do nowadays.”
When he’s not greeting visitors to Quality Connections or out on one of his adventures, John enjoys painting and creating unique three-dimensional art. One of his favorite mediums involves melting candles with a soldering iron onto birdhouses to create wax castles.
Every day, John demonstrates that physical limitations don’t have to diminish a person’s spirit, ambitions, or independence. His work at Quality Connections and his artistic endeavors further highlight his dedication to leading a fulfilling and impactful life, and his journey inspires others to look beyond disabilities and embrace the adventures that life has to offer.
Hot Fun in the Summertime!
We recently asked the folks at Quality Connections about how they like to spend their summers and some of their favorite summer memories.
It’s not surprising that most of the staffers who responded to our survey – 60% – said that their summer weekends were all about relaxing at home. As one employee put it: “Perhaps my favorite part about summer in Flagstaff is the gorgeous weather – doors and windows can stay open for months, and it’s always so nice!”
But lots of our colleagues also said the outdoors beckoned and shared stories about camping, fishing, long walks with their dogs, and hanging out with family at backyard parties and barbecues.
Summer often means travel, and that brought up a lot of great memories for our crew:
- At age 13, my mother took me on a 20-mile sheep herding adventure to experience my great grandparents’ experience.
- Having to buy a light jacket on a cruise to Alaska.
- My favorite summer memory is going to Chicago with my in-laws and being able to experience an unforgettable sunset while in a kayak.
- Siena Summer of 2023 – I was away for a month eating, drinking, and seeing all things Italy.
Even unfortunate turns of events can lead to terrific memories, according to one woman who recalled a trip to Alabama to raft the Duck River. She and her father wound up carrying their inflatable raft because of low water levels that year.
“When we stopped for lunch, I pulled the INFLATABLE raft onto a shoreline and heard a loud ‘POP’ followed by a hissing sound,” she wrote. “One thing led to another and we both ended up in the water, my father attempting to save his cigarettes while I was laughing the entire time. Some might say that sounds miserable, but it was a blast and a memory I’ll never forget!
Sometimes summer offers opportunities that aren’t available the rest of the year. “I love to skateboard on NAU’s campus in the summer when all the students are gone,” one QC staffer said. “More room for kickflips!”
And we smiled when we read this response: “I like to eat barbecue, but hide this from others as I am normally vegetarian.”
The best piece of advice we heard from staffers was this one, which we think encapsulates the joys of this time of year: “The best way to truly enjoy summer is to be surrounded by good people who want to have a great time.”
From the Quality Connections family to yours, we hope you are enjoying the season and making a lot of wonderful summer memories.
