Wheelchair-bound explorer conquers 55 countries across seven continents
Cory Lee's life is a relentless journey that defies stereotypes. A power wheelchair is his everyday means of travel as he circles the globe, visiting 55 countries and all seven continents. From the Sahara to the Swiss Alps, his drive to see the world proves that disability is not a roadblock but a doorway to possibility. This is the story of a man who refuses to slow down.
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Diagnosis and early years of Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Cory Lee, 35, from Georgia, was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy at age two, a degenerative disease that causes his muscles to weaken over time. He lost his ability to walk and started using a power wheelchair at age four — but he knew from an early age that he wasn't going to let it slow him down. “Many people have told me throughout my life that I couldn’t do certain things because of my disability, but when they tell me that, I love proving them wrong,” he explained during an exclusive chat with the Daily Mail. He went on his first trip abroad to the Bahamas at age 15, and immediately caught the 'travel bug.' “The \"travel bug\" definitely bit me on that trip.” Flash forward to now, two decades on, and he has visited 55 different countries and all seven continents — despite being wheelchair-bound. He's trekked through the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador, enjoyed an eight-day safari in Africa and visited the Taj Mahal in India.
The travel bug takes hold and early experiences
The Bahamas trip at age 15 sparked the start of a lifelong passion for travel. He described it as the moment the travel bug bit him. “I was so excited to visit a new place, try new foods and meet the local people,” he said. “The \"travel bug\" definitely bit me on that trip.” This early spark set the stage for decades of exploration that would take him beyond borders and into new cultures, landscapes and challenges.
A lifetime of global journeys and landmark experiences
Two decades later, Cory Lee has visited 55 countries and all seven continents. He’s trekked through the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador, enjoyed an eight-day safari in Africa, and visited the Taj Mahal in India. “From riding a camel in the Sahara desert to paragliding in the Swiss Alps, Cory Lee has not let his disability stop him from seeing the world.”
Planning, risks and the costs of accessibility
Lee explains that each trip takes immense planning and comes with its own set of risks. “It’s challenging, [I don’t] know if something will actually truly be accessible for me until I get there, so I have to make a lot of phone calls and send many emails when planning a trip,” he dished. “For international trips, I usually start planning six to 12 months in advance just so I have enough time to get all of those accessibility details I need.” He admitted that he gets pretty “nervous” before a trip because “there are so many variables that could go wrong,” but added, “In the end, when I’m on the trip, it’s worth it, but it takes a lot of planning.” He also confessed that he’s experienced many “travel mishaps” over the years, like his wheelchair being damaged during a flight or arriving to find his hotel wasn’t accessible as promised. “I’ve had my wheelchair damaged during flight several times, so I had to worry about getting it repaired while on trips,” he shared. He has visited 55 different countries and all seven continents - despite being wheelchair-bound. He’s seen in Brazil.
Impact and message: inspiring others and the accessibility movement
Lee documents his endeavors on his blog Curb Free with Cory Lee and on Instagram, where he’s gained more than 57,000 followers. And he is determined to show others that having a disability doesn’t have to slow you down. “It’s absolutely incredible to be able to travel and show others, both people with and without disabilities, what is possible,” he gushed. “I hope people with disabilities are inspired to break out of their comfort zone and try something new. And I hope people without disabilities realize that we can live awesome lives… if accessibility is available.” “Disability is the one minority that anyone can join at any time, so by making something accessible, you’re not just helping me now. You’re also potentially helping yourself in the future if you become disabled.”
