Ian Mackay’s Inspiring Story and RAM® Mounts Visit

Ian Mackay was left paralyzed from the neck down in 2008 following a bicycle accident, but that hasn’t stopped him from inspiring others and creating change.

A member of the RAM^® team recently learned about his nonprofit organization Ian’s Ride, so we invited Ian to visit headquarters and meet with us about the need for a variety of mounting solutions in the quadriplegic community. Find out more about Ian’s Ride and our commitment to wheelchair and accessibility mounting solutions below.

“Ian’s Ride” Nonprofit Organization

Ian was an avid outdoorsman prior to the bicycle accident. About four years after, he was able to regain some independence thanks to his smartphone.

No longer needing a family member or caregiver by his side at all times, Ian got back outside and explored his community. A nearby bike path named the Olympic Discovery Trail meant he could take in nature again – and he would sometimes put 20 miles per day on his powered wheelchair.

As a proponent for accessible trails and the belief that everyone should be able to access the outdoors, Ian’s Ride was founded in 2016. This nonprofit organization has already seen Ian inspire change by making two cross-state journeys.

The first journey took him 335 miles from Anacortes, Washington to Portland, Oregon – each leg ending with a beer at a local brewery. This first trip inspired plenty of media coverage, allowing the organization to educate the public on active transportation. The second journey took Ian on a 13-day trek from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to Port Angeles, Washington in August 2018 (route pictured below).

Ian Visits RAM^® Mounts

After learning about Ian’s Ride and seeing that Ian was already using RAM^® Mounts for his iPhone, the team invited him to headquarters in Seattle for a tour of the RAM^® manufacturing facilities.

Following the tour, we were able to work with Ian and hear more about the need for mounting solutions in the quadriplegic community. Our product experts were able to outfit his powered wheelchair with an iPad mount as well as a RAM^® Level Cup^™ XL.

The team also sent Ian home with a variety of RAM^® components to test out. A few days later, Ian shared the below setup that helps to solve a major pain point – allowing him to eat a snack and get a drink when no one’s around. The mounting setup consists of:

• RAM-B-189B-202U: Double Suction Cup Base with 1″ Ball
• RAM-B-201U-A: (2) Short Double Socket Arm for 1″ Balls
• RAM-B-218-1U: (2) 1/4″ NPT Female Threaded Hole Base with 1″ Ball
• RAM-PA5409: 9″ Aluminum Pipe with 1/4″ NPT Male Threaded Ends
• RAM-B-289U: Triple 1″ Ball Adapter
• RAM-B-201U-C: (2) Long Double Socket Arm for 1″ Balls
• RAM-B-125BU: Curved Extension Base with 1″ Ball
• RAM-B-132BU: RAM^® Level Cup^™ Drink Holder

Big thanks go out to Ian and his family for visiting and taking the time to discuss accessibility and wheelchair mounting solutions. At RAM^®, we look forward to continuing to create inclusive mounts for people and communities who have historically been overlooked. If you have a specific solution in mind, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.

For more information and updates from the Ian’s Ride organization, follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.