Lonnie Bedwell

Blind Navy Veteran & Mountain-Climber, Expert Snow Skier and White-Water Kayaker & Author of "226: How I Became the First Blind Person to Kayak the Grand Canyon"

Travels From Travels From:
Indianapolis, IN, USA
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Lonnie Bedwell Biography

Extreme-sports athlete Lonnie Bedwell is the National Geographic Adventurer of the Year for 2015. Bedwell most recently summited Mount Everest, claiming the title as the 4th blind person to accomplish this feat. On Everest, Bedwell overcame equipment failures, frostbite with one of his guides and water shortages during the deadliest year on record at Everest. In addition, he has kayaked some of the most challenging whitewater in the world and is responsible for the first blind descents of Africa’s fabled Zambezi River and West Virginia’s world-renowned Gauley River. Bedwell is best known for his first descent of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon — an effort successfully completed during 2013 as part of a team of boaters assembled by Team River Runner. Bedwell now leads teams of disabled veterans down the Colorado to help them face adversity with courage and tenacity.

A former Navy Petty Officer, Bedwell was critically injured during 1997 in a hunting accident that instantly took his sight. Nevertheless, he raised three daughters as a single father, teaching them all to hunt and fish — and, against all odds, to drive. Once the girls graduated from high school, Bedwell continued to challenge himself, ultimately becoming a renowned extreme sports athlete. When the threshold for running the Grand Canyon was placed at 1,000 kayak rolls, he took his donated kayak to the pond on his farm and rolled it 1,500 times. The rest is history.

Bedwell has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, summited several of North America’s highest mountains, rock climbs, and is an avid downhill skier when he has time away from roofing work in his hometown of Duggar, IN.

Bedwell's mission is to motivate and inspire others to embrace life with confidence and courage. Bedwell is dedicated to helping veterans and many others enjoy full lives and while he is an advocate for the blind, blindness does not define either him or his efforts on behalf of others. Lonnie has appeared on The Today Show and Steve Harvey and has been featured in countless publications. He’s the author of the award-winning book 226 (the length in miles of the Colorado River stretch through the Grand Canyon) and shares his passion for life and adventure with audiences around the country.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 09/04/2024.

Lonnie Bedwell Speaking Topics

  • INSPIRATIONAL, RELATABLE, PRACTICAL

    Lonnie’s mission is to inspire others to approach adversity with courage and confidence to live their life to the fullest. He is an active volunteer for veterans and people with disabilities but is dedicated to helping anyone take their first steps to living an inspired life.

    Lonnie’s talks are customizable. Some of his most popular speaking topics are:

    • Overcoming Adversity.
    • Teamwork.
    • Leadership.
    • Trust and Vulnerability.
    • Kayaking and other Extreme Adventure Stories.

Lonnie Bedwell Videos

  • Lonnie Bedwell: Surviving the Accident
    Full Episode: https://youtu.be/09n_pFnXuNY Blind veteran Lonnie Bedwell talks about how he has no anger towards the man that accidently shot him...
  • From the Farm to Mt. Everest with Blind Adventurer Lonnie Bedwell Part 1
    In this powerful two-part interview, we sit down with Lonnie Bedwell, a remarkable individual whose life took an unexpected turn after a hunting...
  • Blind adventurer Lonnie Bedwell
    Blind adventurer Lonnie Bedwell

Lonnie Bedwell Books

  • 226: How I Became the First Blind Person to Kayak the Grand Canyon
    226: How I Became the First Blind Person to Kayak the Grand Canyon

FAQs on booking Lonnie Bedwell

  • How do I book Lonnie Bedwell to speak at my event?

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  • What are the speaker fees for Lonnie Bedwell

    Speaking fees for Lonnie Bedwell, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Lonnie Bedwell are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Lonnie Bedwell, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Lonnie Bedwell speak about?

    Lonnie Bedwell is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Athlete, Authors, Disability, Ethics & Integrity, Extreme Sports, Human Resources, Inspirational, Leadership, Literary, Military, Motivational, Navy, Sports, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Veterans.
  • Where does Lonnie Bedwell travel from?

    Lonnie Bedwell generally travels from Indianapolis, IN, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Lonnie Bedwell’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Lonnie Bedwell for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Lonnie Bedwell for your next private or corporate function.
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Lonnie Bedwell is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as INSPIRATIONAL, RELATABLE, PRACTICAL. The estimated speaking fee range to book Lonnie Bedwell for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Lonnie Bedwell generally travels from Indianapolis, IN, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Brent Gleeson, Brad Snyder, Rocky Bleier, Marc Koehler and Daniel Cnossen. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Lonnie Bedwell for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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