It’s every hodophile’s dream to explore all the corners of the globe, and Cory Lee has already done it!
Cory, who has spinal muscular atrophy, has a serious case of wanderlust. He was first bitten by the travel bug as a little boy when his mother, a teacher, took him on summer road trips across the country. Since then, they’ve not only ventured beyond the U.S. border, but they’ve also experienced wonders on every continent!
The fearless explorer decided early on not to let his wheelchair stop him from doing what he loves. After visiting countries all over the world, he just became the first traveler in a wheelchair to visit every continent!
“Traveling to all seven continents wasn’t something I was sure was going to be possible,” he told GMA. “But if you stay determined and keep a positive attitude, the opportunities are limitless.”
It took careful research and planning for Cory to ensure his trips were accessible, which he said was plenty of work. That’s what inspired him to create Curb Free with Cory Lee, a blog where he shares tips with other travelers who have disabilities.
“If you research you can find so many companies doing amazing things,” he said. Many of them include special equipment for all kinds of activities!
Thanks to his efforts, Cory has enjoyed floating in the Caribbean Sea…
…riding a camel in the Sahara Desert…
…and even zip-lining across an alligator-infested lake in Orlando’s Gatorland!
One of his all-time favorite destinations was Antarctica, where few people can say they’ve been at all. He and his mom visited right before the novel coronavirus pandemic began, crossing the seventh and final continent off their list!
Of course, they’re nowhere near finished. Cory has been to 37 countries so far and hopes to raise that number soon.
In the meantime, he’s helping kids find representation in his new children’s book “Let’s Explore With Cor Cor.” The story features a boy who travels to different countries in his powered wheelchair.
“Wheelchair-using kids will see possibilities!” one reviewer wrote. “Others will see that kids with disabilities are just kids, ready for adventure and fun and able to experience life with gusto.”
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves!
You go, Cory! Thank you for showing people everywhere that where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Check out more of his incredible adventures on Instagram, and share this story to encourage someone to pursue their dreams.
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