Altoona, Iowa — A central Iowa woman is the new Ms. Wheelchair Iowa. Kelly Richmond of Altoona was crowned at the competition this month.
The 42-year-old mother of four was born with spina bifida, a condition that impacts the spine, and she’s been using the wheelchair for mobility for about five years. Richmond says she likes to be approached and have people ask about the wheelchair and why she’s in it, and she’s hoping to lead by example with her new role.
As Iowa’s new titleholder, Richmond will be traversing the state, speaking to civic groups, schools and government leaders about the abilities of people who have disabilities. She says she already likes to get out and meet people and see the sights.
A native of southern California, she left the West Coast several years ago and fell in love with Iowa — saying California is too crowded, too expensive, and too much asphalt. Her children range in age from five to 20 years, and the 20-year-old is in the US Army, preparing to deploy. Richmond says she’d like to make the Veterans Home in Marshalltown and Iowa’s VA hospitals among her first stops as Ms. Wheelchair Iowa.
Richmond works fulltime as a maintenance coordinator in the corporate offices of Casey’s General Stores in Ankeny. She’ll represent Iowa at the Ms. Wheelchair America event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which begins in late August of 2023.
