My name is J. Michael Atkins and I'm a 47 year old North Carolina native.
I was born in Whiteville NC, but grew up in Pembroke, NC.
I now reside in North Raleigh, NC.
From high school thru 1987, I worked with several different rock and top 40 show bands.
I was a disc jockey in West Virginia for 6 years at several different clubs.
I have worked in several plants working as an electrical and mechanical welder and assembler to name a few.
On Feb 7, 1988, I was involved in a drinking and driving accident.
I am now a T 11 Paraplegic due to a spinal cord injury at the eleventh thoracic vertebrae.
I try to keep busy and active.
Since my injury, I've been involved with wheelchair racing.
I placed third in the Marine Corp marathon, third in the Dublin, Ireland marathon, and have placed in many local races.
I helped start Wake Wheelers (now Triangle Thunder) in 1992 with Laury Holley.
I am now working full time at Alliance Disability Advocates- CIL (Center for Independent Living) as an administrative assistant.
I am a speaker at the Alice Poe Center for the Think First Program.
I also do public speaking at colleges, schools, and business forums, and to newly injured people at local rehab centers.
I promote wheelchair sports through sports demonstrations and expos, and sports clinics.
I also help coach the Wheels of Steel youth wheelchair basketball team.
My hobbies include hand-cycling, motorcycling, white-water rafting, camping, going to motorcycle rallies,
hanging with friends, and catching a band at Deep South here in Raleigh.