Fletcher Cleaves

Choices Matter Changemakers

Fletcher Cleaves was involved in a tragic car crash that left him paralyzed from the chest down due to a driver suspected of texting while behind the wheel. This traumatic incident caused him to lose his football scholarship but with faith, perseverance, and a year of intense physical therapy, he re-enrolled in school and graduated from The University of Memphis with a degree in Computer Science. Now as a professional motivational speaker, Fletcher has shared his testimony of overcoming adversity, safe driving, importance of education, and faith-based living with ESPN, College Game-Day, and over 700 high schools, colleges, and businesses. Fletcher is also a world traveler obtaining the nickname “The Wheelchair Nomad”. He travels to many countries living life to the fullest while also bringing awareness to accessibility issues in the travel industry.

To many, his crash seemed like the end of a young man’s promising future, but on the contrary, it became the prologue to his destiny.

Rave Reviews

If you’d like to share your experience, we’d love to hear about it!

Thank you for making this happen!

Fletcher was excellent, our kids loved it and would be happy to do another one in the future.

Mr. Brannen

Principal

St. Henry District High School

Erlanger,

Kentucky

Thank you for coming to BFMS on Friday, January, 24th. You helped me and others realize what could happen if we were to take our eyes of the road for 2 seconds, I appreciate you coming all the way to Bellons Falls Vermont to tell us your story. Thank you again Fletcher, for explaining what could happend if we looked off the road for a few seconds.

Thank you,

Kaitlin

Student

Bellow Falls Middle School

Rockingham,

Vermont

Thank you, Fletcher, for sharing your wisdom or knowledge. We all appreciate it.

Bellow Falls Middle School

It was absolutely fantastic! From the set up to the presentation- everything was very well done! If you have any kind of evaluation form for me to fill out, I would be happy to. It was a blessing for our students and staff! Fletcher did a great job relating to and engaging with the students.

So glad you reached out to us and we have this connection now!

Maria

Thomas Magnet School

Shelbyville,

Tennessee

“Almost a year later, I am still so thankful to have been able to meet and hear the story of Fletcher Cleaves. Not only has he opened our eyes to the dangers of distracted driving, but he has also taught us that the sky can’t possibly be the limit if there are footprints on the moon. Fletcher has taught me to never give up on my dreams and to not reach for the sky, but to reach for the stars.”

Thank you so much for going to our school and telling us your story. I love how you’re still positive even after everything that has happened. You have such good advice for everything. Not everyone has neough courage to tell their story to people. So, I thought it was cool that you did. You seem like such a funny person. You have a crazy story. But somehow you act like nothing ever happened. I love how even after you got paralyzed that didn’t stop you from doing your dreams and what you love.

You are an amazing person.

Student

Bellow Falls Middle School

“Fletcher captured the minds and hearts of the audience with his story while renewing hope and faith to reach beyond the sky. His message was powerful and his gift is full of passion. Fletcher is a must-see presentation!”

Dear Fletcher Cleaves,
My name is Anna. I play basketball; in the winter I ride horse. Pretty much all year, and I play feld hockey all year round.
I don’t know yet if I want to play field hockey in college but I know I want to be really good now and I want to be the best at it. Your speech helped me to realize that I can be the best, and nobody can tell me otherwise.
My favorite thing you said was, ‘Sky is not the limit.’

Thank you so much for coming I enjoyed it very much.

Anna

Student

Bellow Falls Middle School

Rockingham,

Vermont

We are hearing good things about your recent appearance at our high school. Definitely spurred conversations!

Dear Mr. Cleaves,

I just wanted to let you know how much you sharing your story and talking with our students means to me. I graduated from this school and during my freshman year of college I lost my best friend in a car accident. I think this is one of the reasons that I decided to become a teacher. So I could make a difference in my students’ lives and explain to them the importance of vigilance while driving. Sharing your story here is extremely important, and it is inspiring me to be a better man and teacher.

Thank you for coming to visit us.

Best,

Mr. Cronin

Trigg County,

Kentucky

Fletcher on the Podcast

We are joined on the Choices Matter Podcast by Fletcher Cleaves, a nationally recognized speaker for the Choices Matter program and author of The Sky is Not the Limit: The Fletcher Cleaves Story.

Fletcher shares his unique personal story — how a distracted driver changed the course of his life forever, forcing him off the road and into a wheelchair. With a message grounded in humor, resilience, and hope, Fletcher reminds us that while we can’t control everything, the decisions we do make carry weight. Fletcher’s story is a powerful reminder that decisions made have consequences, and sometimes, those consequences reach far beyond ourselves.