It all started with a wheelchair

After having his leg amputated while conscious in 2012, Dennis Schulz has been thankful for the first responders who saved his life. While driving a semi-truck through Chicago at 2:50 a.m., Schulz was struck by another semi-truck that was dodging a vehicle pulled over by law enforcement. The wreckage trapped Schulz in the driver’s seat. “Thirteen years ago, I was in that bad accident with his semi-trailer inside my cab,” Schulz said. “I was trapped for seven hours until they cut my leg off, conscious with a 42% chance of living.” Ever since the accident, emergency responders have had a special place in Schulz’s heart. Five years after the accident, in the winter of 2017, Schulz began raising donations for various charities by traveling via wheelchair. His first excursion was a 120-mile trek from his home in Beloit to Chicago’s Wrigley Field. “I took off in 17 below zero windchill, riding in my wheelchair backwards,” Schulz said. “I didn’t even make it four miles down the road and I had people stopping me asking what I’m doing, so I shared with them my story, how I’m raising awareness and donations for our (emergency response) heroes.” This wheelchair trip was the start of what Schulz calls his “Handshake Journey.” Upon reaching Wrigley Field, 21 days later, Schulz became a sort of celebrity. “I arrived with media,” Schulz said, “and started a Facebook page, while raising $2,500 for cancer research, March of Dimes, and for Wounded Warriors.” Schulz was asked, “What’s next?” “I said that I’m a Packers fan; I want to go to Lambeau Field,” Schulz said. Schulz embarked on another wheelchair journey, meeting new people and shaking hands with first responders and military veterans. “In February, I left Janesville for a 171-mile journey to Lambeau Field,” Schulz said. “Forty-five days later I walked the last half-mile with police officers and firefighters, family supporters, Facebook followers, and reporters from TV and newspaper and radio.” “I was escorted through the tunnel and all who were with me, where I met and talked with Ted Thompson on Lambeau Field’s end zone,” Schulz said. Lambeau Field would not be the end of Schulz’s handshake journey. He continued honoring emergency responders with several other wheelchair excursions, which included a tour of the White House. “I left from Wilmington, Delaware, with 131 miles to go until the White House,” Schulz said, “where I was escorted with a grand tour of the White House. When I got back home, I had a birthday card from the White House and it was signed in ink by President (Donald) Trump and first lady Melania Trump.” Schulz began each journey within 200 miles of his destination, and completed his treks 10 miles a day, supported by friends in a car who would pick Schulz up for meals and lodging and drop him off where he left off. In 2019, Schulz had to halt his wheelchair journeys due to knee pain, but that has not stopped him from living out his passionate service to the emergency response community. Schulz, a Beloit resident, says Gillett is his home away from home. “I work for a trucking company here in Gillett,” Schulz said. “When I first got into town, I felt like I was in an episode of Andy Griffith, everybody is so friendly and they don’t look down on you.” To remember and honor local heroes, Schulz has organized an event to take place at Zippel Park in the city of Gillett, called Heroes Day Off. Heroes Day Off begins at 9 a.m. July 12 with a craft fair and flea market. It will feature a bounce house and dunk tank, food trucks, beverage tent, 50/50 raffles, karaoke contest, and live music from 3-11 p.m. Bands include Frank Hermans’ Elvis Tribute, Danger County Line, and the Nashville recording artist Jessie G, who will give away her autographed guitar. Proceeds from the event will go to the Wisconsin LEDR Team (Law Enforcement Death Response), an organization that supports the grieving families of fallen heroes. The event needs a few more volunteers to help throughout the day, including a master of ceremonies. For information, contact Schulz at 608-982-2372.