On a typical weekend Jeremy Hannaford fills his days riding his off road vehicle and playing rugby.  He drives a low rider truck with flashy rims; he's not much different than any other 25-year old, except that when he is done playing he throws himself back into his wheelchair.  Jeremy is a quadriplegic. 
            A little more than 5 years ago Hannaford was riding at a dirt bike practice and got bucked off his bike going over a jump when another rider hit him with his bike.  While most might consider losing the use of their legs a life altering event, to Hannaford it was merely another obstacle to jump over.  
"I did a lawn dart header into the ground and broke my neck (at the C-6 vertebrae) and my back (at the L-7 vertebrae). It's a bum deal but it hasn't slowed me down yet," said Hannaford, a life long resident of Port Orchard.
            Assisting Hannaford in keeping his pace is Kersey Mobility in Sumner, specializing in vehicle modifications for people with disabilities.  Kersey Mobility installed the hand controls in Hannaford's 2009 Polaris Razor All Terrain Vehicle.  
"I love doing these unique installations," said Mike Kersey, President. "We install hand controls in vans and automobiles everyday, but these unique installations I love getting involved in.  We've installed hand controls on tractors, hotrods and custom made motorcycles." 
Hand controls are a manual system that pushes on the pedals when the driver pushes or pulls on the handle.  Kersey Mobility also sells converted vans for wheelchairs and power scooters.   They also installed hand controls on Hannaford's pride and joy, a 2005 Chevy Silverado on "low-rider" airbags and 22 inch rims. 
"It turns a lot of heads, especially when I pull my wheelchair out and hop in," added Hannaford. 
            In his motor bike days Hannaford only raced competitively on rare occasions.
"Mostly I liked going out free riding, hitting really big jumps, dune riding and ripping up trails," he said. 
Today he is going to be doing the same in his Polaris, but now it has a therapeutic purpose as well. 
"Jeremy was a great dirt biker," said Bill Meigs Hannaford's father.   "The razor now allows him to be back out enjoying the thing he loved to do most. There is no more looks of hurt when every body else is riding. He is back riding and that is just one more boost to his well being."