Wesley Hamilton, who founded the nonprofit Disabled But Not Really after being shot twice in the abdomen and paralyzed nearly a decade ago, recently received a massive donation of $1 million during an appearance on “Good Morning America.”
DBNR, an organization that aims to provide equal access to the underserved disabled community through fitness, wellness and mental health, received the offering from the Craig H. Nielsen Foundation, a fellow nonprofit that’s “committed to changing the world for those living with spinal cord injuries,” according to its official website.
During the segment, Hamilton was told to spin the wheel that displayed various donation amounts. After landing on $40,000 then $100,000, host T.J. Holmes told the man that regardless what number he landed on, he was going to be gifted $1 million.
The Kansas City resident’s life was drastically changed following his spinal cord injury. At 24, he reportedly was shot in the back and became paralyzed from the waist down as a result.
Hamilton reportedly battled depression and contemplated taking his own life before creating his organization — thanks to the thought of his daughter Nevaeh, the single father told the outlet. Now Hamilton and DBNR work on “providing equal access to the underserved disabled community through fitness, wellness, and mental health.”
Hamilton thanked the foundation for its donation, some of which he says he plans to put toward a project on which DBNR has been working. “It’s always been about the people we’ve been serving. I’m grateful…This doesn’t seem real. If you know my story, you know where I come from, it doesn’t seem real, but it gives my people hope and that’s all I wanted,” he said.
“We just launched a mobile gym and our plan is to take what we’ve been doing and spread it across the country,” he added.
Those who have watched Hamilton on his journey applauded him for this achievement. “The energy that he brings to the class is unmatched. It’s actually a place where I feel like I belong,” Trey Matthews, an athlete at DBNR said.
Meanwhile, Hamilton’s daughter described her father as her “superhero.” The young girl said, not only has her father helped her but he “motivates me. My dad is literally the most amazing person I know.”
The public speaker told reporters that through his work, he hopes to be an inspiration and a sense of motivation to others to keep chasing their dream regardless of what happens in life. “The man who tried to take my life gave me life. I’m living my purpose, and everybody is seeing it. Follow your dreams despite the circumstances that happen to you,” he said.
