116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Two Iowa veterans receive donated all-terrain wheelchairs
ITC Midwest employees, company raise funds to make donations possible
Apr. 29, 2025 2:55 pm, Updated: May. 1, 2025 9:30 am
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
CEDAR RAPIDS — Two Iowa veterans were gifted Tuesday with new all-terrain wheelchairs through an annual fundraiser hosted by ITC Midwest.
Bret Miller, of Center Point, served in the U.S. Army between 1995 and 1998. Dave Thiele, of Ankeny, served in the U.S. Navy between 1988 and 1993. Both men were connected with ITC Midwest, based in southwest Cedar Rapids, through the Paralyzed Veterans of America Iowa Chapter.
This is the eighth year that Iowa chapter and ITC Midwest have partnered to give out the all-terrain chairs, and the first year that the company’s annual golf event raised enough money for two chairs to be donated. The golf event is hosted for ITC Midwest employees, and all the money raised from staff is matched by the company.
“ITC Midwest is committed to supporting many worthy nonprofits that directly improve the lives of people throughout our services area,” ITC Midwest President Dusky Terry said in a statement. “I’m exceedingly proud of ITC employees for supporting the recreational electric wheelchair program in collaboration with Iowa PVA. It is truly making a life-changing difference in the lives of the veterans who receive these units.”
The two men were able to choose the type of chair they received, with both of the options typically costing about $16,000.
Miller chose an Action Trackchair, which is more versatile for off-road riding. He hopes to use it to go hunting, fishing and to more easily do yard work with his wife. He said he was surprised when he found out he was chosen by the Paralyzed Veterans of America chapter to receive one of the chairs, and has been looking forward to it.
“I was shocked. … I’ve been on cloud nine ever since,” Miller said.
Brent Urban (left) of Blurb Outdoors in Omaha, Neb., talks Tuesday about the features and operation of the all-terrain Action Trackchair with U.S. Army veteran Bret Miller (second from right) of Center Point during a presentation at ITC Midwest, 3165 Edgewood Parkway SW, in Cedar Rapids. Miller was one of two Iowa veterans to receive donations of all-terrain wheelchairs through ITC Midwest, with collaboration of the Paralyzed Veterans of America Iowa Chapter. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
U.S. Navy veteran Dave Thiele, of Ankeny, steers his Zoom Uphill power-driven mobility chair Tuesday in the parking lot of ITC Midwest, 3165 Edgewood Parkway SW, during a presentation in Cedar Rapids. He said he wants to use the chair to go on trail walks with his wife and dog, and to enjoy the outdoors more. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
U.S. Army veteran Bret Miller of Center Point, Iowa, maneuvers his new all-terrain Action Trackchair in the parking lot of ITC Midwest, 3165 Edgewood Parkway SW, during a presentation in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Miller plans to use the vehicle to go fishing with his son Brian and well as do yard work and take walks with his wife Jean and use it to hunt. Employees at ITC Midwest raised money to purchase the wheelchairs during summer charity golf outing that is donated through the Paralyzed Veterans of America’s Iowa Chapter. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Thiele received a Zoom All-Terrain Wheelchair, which is a much faster-moving chair, although slightly less versatile than the Trackchair. He said he wants to use the chair to go on trail walks with his wife and dog, and to enjoy the outdoors more.
Theile said he was so surprised when he got the call that he’d been chosen to receive a chair that the chapter president, who had called, was worried at first that Theile wasn’t excited about the opportunity. Theile said he didn’t know how to react to the news.
“I was just in total shock,” he said.
Comments: (319) 398-8328; emily.andersen@thegazette.com
Daily Newsletters