Brothers Pushing Together for Inclusion
Written By Kevin Enners
It was an early Saturday morning in Atlanta when Parker and Noah Gordon arrived at their first race with The Kyle Pease Foundation, Pound the Pavement for Peter. Runners stretched. Athletes settled into their race chairs and adaptive hand bikes. Volunteers hustled to make sure every detail was ready. Excitement buzzed through the crowd as the brothers joined the Support Crew, helping with sideline logistics.
For Noah, it was his first time seeing athletes of all abilities preparing to run side-by-side. For Parker, the thrill came from managing responsibilities of being a volunteer which included handing out bags to runners as the race kicked off.
Noah and Parker, 13, are twins, born just one minute apart. They grew up in Atlanta with their older brother, Spencer. Parker was born with Down syndrome, but to Noah, that has never defined their bond.
“All we know is an inclusive environment,” Noah says. “I always want my brother to be able to participate in whatever I can do.”
Parker sees it just as clearly, though in simpler words. “Me and my friends can do everything that Noah does.”
That shared belief led them to choose The Kyle Pease Foundation for their Bar Mitzvah project. Two years earlier, Kyle and Brent Pease had visited their synagogue. Immediately, the Gordon brothers felt a connection. Like Noah and Parker, Kyle and Brent were brothers. Like Parker, Kyle had a disability. And like Noah, Brent supported his brother so he could take part in experiences that might otherwise be out of reach.
“As twin brothers, one with a disability, we love that KPF offers individuals with disabilities the same experience as anyone else,” says Noah. “We are inspired seeing all athletes compete.”
When it came time to plan their project, the brothers didn’t want to just check a box. They wanted something personal. They raised money through social media, volunteered at races, and created a video sharing why the organization mattered to them.
“We have used social media to spread awareness, as well as speaking with so many others who had a personal connection to the organization,” Noah explains.
And the community responded. Friends, relatives, and neighbors shared their own stories, each with some tie to disabilities and inclusion.
“It was amazing how many people had a personal connection to the foundation,” Noah says. For Parker, the joy was in the doing: passing out race bags, cheering for runners, being part of something bigger.
For the Gordon brothers, this wasn’t just about helping others. It was about living their faith. Their project was an expression of tikkun olam – repairing the world – and chesed – acts of loving-kindness. They came to see inclusion as a way of practicing both.
“It helped me grow by showing me that there are always others who need your help,” Noah explains. “Even though they need your help, that doesn’t mean they aren’t going to succeed.”
The brothers aren’t stopping with one project. They want to keep showing up at races, at events, at every opportunity to make inclusion visible. Their message is simple: Athletes with disabilities deserve the same chances to compete, to cross finish lines, and to celebrate their victories.
“Inclusion is so important,” says Noah. “Parker is so happy when he is doing what my older brother and I get to do. It means the world to him, and I would never want to take that joy away.”
When asked what advice they’d give to other kids planning their own Bar or Bat Mitzvah projects, Noah doesn’t hesitate. “Choose a project that means a lot to you, that you believe in, and that you feel connected to on many levels.”
For Noah and Parker, that choice came naturally. They’ve been teammates from the very beginning, lifting each other up, and proving that inclusion isn’t just possible, it’s powerful.
The Gordon brothers’ story reminds us that inclusion doesn’t just happen — it’s built through small acts of kindness, commitment, and showing up. You can help carry that spirit forward.
Support The Kyle Pease Foundation by volunteering at a race, donating, or sharing their mission with your community. Together, we can ensure that every athlete — regardless of ability — has the chance to cross the finish line.
