We were lucky to catch up with Crystal Laramore recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Crystal, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
My purpose was actually passed down from one generation to the next until it fell on my heart. Funny thing about purpose… we do not all find ours at the same stage in life, and some never do. I cannot imagine the emptiness of not having a purpose and I thank God every day, several times a day, that I discovered what mine is…. even though I was in my 50’s. If you wanted to say that the overall purpose of my life is “service” then yes, I figured it out early… in High School actually. But, if you want to define it further, as service to America’s heroes, then we have to say I discovered that passion after I went to a war zone, came home, processed all that had happened, and then “discovered” my true purpose/passion. See, God always knew what I was supposed to do. I was the problem. I was not listening. He had to send me to a war zone for my heart to fully grasp what He always knew; I was always meant to serve those who have served me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Our brand is our mission! Wheelchairs for Warriors.
Serving warriors is our mission! With your support, we serve veterans and first responders (injured in the line of duty) across the United States of America; providing them custom-fit, complex-rehab mobility solutions to ensure they rejoin their lives at the highest level of INDEPENDENT mobility and function possible!
Often times the wheelchairs our warriors receive from their healthcare providers are subpar (at best). Some are falling apart… at times there is a years-long waiting list for a new one. This not only causes them a tremendous amount of stress, it also creates a burden for their caregivers who struggle with the transportation of heavy, bulky chairs. Oftentimes, the limitation of mobility leads to deep depression for these heroes. Some of our warriors need all-terrain wheels to get out and enjoy the outdoors or adaptive sports chairs so they can play sports (or compete in the Para Olympics!)
The average price for a wheelchair is $12,000. We custom fit each wheelchair to the specific physical and lifestyle needs of our recipients. These warriors have sacrificed so much for us, they deserve to have the freedom, independence and enhanced quality of life our mobility solutions provide!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The Art of Persuasion: Sometimes I wonder how we are allotted the skills we each have. For instance, I have no problem promoting a product or brand or service (or referring you to xyz) IF I believe in it. If I love something I automatically assume others will love it too and they need to know about it and they will all be better off for the knowledge. Other people I know wouldn’t sell or offer a product if their life depended on it! Nor will they ask for money or donations or help. In this journey with Wheelchairs for Warriors I have become a professional beggar! I have no idea what to call this skill, other than The Art of Persuasion, but it has served me well, and has served our warriors well.
Service: I love to serve. I feel most accomplished and most fulfilled when I can serve someone. That. might even tie into the above paragraph… if I can refer you to something or someone who can help you solve a problem or move you further along your path… then I have served.
Big Picture: The big picture comes easy to me. Thank you Jesus! It’s the details that escape me. So, using my above two skills, I can persuade others to follow me, to join the mission, and most importantly to support the mission.
Story Telling: Sit back. Grab an iced tea. Cuz man, do I have a story for you! It will make you laugh. It make you cry. It will make you angry. But most of, it will engage you. Maybe to the point of YOU joining the mission!
The lesson is that you just never know who else wants to do what you are doing. You never know who wants to join you on your journey. And, you never know who wants to support what you are doing and to HELP you achieve your goals!. YOU have to give the information. YOU have to let your own light shine so that others can see it. But believe me… YOU have to tell YOUR story. No one can or will tell it better.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
Champions, Mentors, Sounding Boards, A Team and… a Co-Conspirator! ! There is no doubt that I could not have done half the things I have done without others. Something worth doing, is worth doing with others.
My main champions are my father and mother. My father, God rest his soul, served his country as a medic in the 101st Airborne. He was always so very proud of my accomplishments, both small and big. My mom is right there too, so proud of her daughter and always has an encouraging word. My countless friends and family members who have allowed me to bend their ear, vent, rejoice and cry on their shoulder!
My #1 mentor for my life has been and still is Jay Mincks. Our personalities match, but he is more seasoned at weeding out the insignificant tasks or ideas I have. While he has certainly and obviously championed our cause, lead us, praised me (cuz who doesn’t love praise), encouraged me and prayed for me, he has also told me a few times, in not so many words, “that’s a terrible idea”! Of course that’s all I hear bc I thought it was a great idea! And then we discuss it, and after a few minutes I realize… that was a terrible idea. He keeps me, therefore us, focused on the mission. He is our greatest champion and sings our praises. He knows my shortfalls and sends in the troops, so-to-speak, to fill in the gaps!
Nate Olsen: Who doesn’t need a sounding board? Sometimes I call Nate to get his opinion before I call Jay LOL! It’s kinda like, if Nate thinks it’s a terrible idea, then surely I shouldn’t bother Jay with it! Poor Nate!
Stephen King: OHHHHH the King of Finance! Sent to me by Jay. The one who asks me questions and gets the “deer in the headlight” look from me more times than either one of us can count. The one who makes it all make sense on paper and via “the numbers”. Those pesky numbers. NOT my first, second or third love, but the main thing. You have to be able to show people where their dollars are going. That their financial sacrifice is indeed making a difference.
The Team: Over the years I have been fortunate enough to meet some very generous, talented and gifted humans. Some of them have been with me on more than one adventure and some are with me still. Our team at Wheelchairs for Warriors is small, but mighty!
Paul Morgan is our rehab seating specialist. He is the wheel that turns the machine. None of this would be possible without him, his talent, his heart for this mission, and his love for our warriors.
Shawn Domingues is our Director of Communications. She is like my sister from another mister, my right arm and the one we go to the most for almost everything. She wears a LOT of hats. It was difficult giving her a title!
Sevanah Pena is our Administrative Assistant and so much more. Sevanah never says, “No.” She is calm, steady and handles anything we ask of her. She assists all of us on multiple tasks and when she is away, we all feel the pain of her absence.
Last, but certainly not least, everyone needs a Co-Conspirator! Heidi Hansing is the other half of Wheelchairs for Warriors. She is the Co-founder, and it all came together through a series of unintended circumstances. Our lives merged at just the right time. We were both struggling to find a path we could travel down while serving our heroes and also parlaying that into a career, a mission and a purpose. She is an Army Veteran, former Lt. and our hearts are aligned when it comes to serving America’s heroes. She is the yen to my yang. She is detailed oriented, loves research, and is a walking encyclopedia. She completes me. We work together, we pray together, we laugh together, we cry together and together we are changing lives.
None of this would be possible without these people and so many more I don’t have the space to list! Our hearts are full and we are so grateful every time we get to share our mission! Thank you for reading!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wheelchairsforwarriors.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wheelchairsforwarriors/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wheelchairsforwarriors
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/55733841/admin/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Chairs4warriors
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTdSgaFV9Ufzw3tGUAGvBcA
Image Credits
Wheelchairs for Warriors Crystal Lee Laramore Heidi Hansing Shawn Domingues Jill Businelle
