A lifelong outdoorsman who was left quadriplegic in June 2025 after an infection attacked his spinal cord has received the tracked wheelchair donated by the family of a fellow hunter who lost his life to cancer.
Jason Swerdfeger’s story of resilience and passion for hunting “perfectly aligns” with the legacy of a Murray Kemp and his family’s wishes, longtime friend and Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters (OFAH) member Dave Branson wrote.
Written applications for the Action Trackchair — an all-terrain mobility device — were submitted to Kemp’s family via Ontario Out of Doors, coordinated by Branson, starting March 31. A consensus was reached and on June 6, Swerdfeger received the wheelchair worth approximately $32,500.
Branson thanked everyone for their time, thoughtfulness, and dedicated to the application process.
“Your help in honouring Murray’s memory and passing this gift on to a very deserving home is greatly appreciated,” he said.
The device was originally provided to Kemp in 2024 by the Track2Wing charity, whose founders are involved with the North American Versatile Dog Association. Its features include a Uni-Mount rifle rest and a camo headrest.
Swerdfeger, 49, has been home since Christmas “adjusting to his new reality,” his wife Kim wrote in his application.
Jason spent three weeks in an intensive care unit following two life-saving surgeries and three months at Ottawa Civic Hospital. He then spent three months at Ottawa General Rehabilitation Centre learning how to function with limited mobility.
“This has changed every part of his life,” Kim wrote. “Getting outside, which used to be second nature to him, is now extremely difficult. Grass, mud, uneven ground, and trails are not manageable in a regular wheelchair.”
The Swerdfeger’s live on five acres that Jason can’t access for much of the year.
“Losing that independence and connection to the outdoors has been incredibly hard on him. This has had a major impact on his mental health, as hunting, working with his dogs, and being outside were not just hobbies — they were a huge part of who he is.”
The OFAH member of more than 20 years and regular Big Buck Contestant spent a lot of time training his two Labradors. He’s also an avid angler who hopes to once again access riverbanks and return to ice fishing.
“Jason wants nothing more than to get back to that part of his life,” Kim continued. “A track chair would be truly life-changing … More than anything, it would give him back a sense of independence, purpose, and connection to the outdoors. It would not only improve his mobility but also help restore his mental wellbeing by allowing him to reconnect with the life he has always loved.”
