More Than a Race: How One Young Volunteer Athlete Found the Power of Inclusion
When he first encountered The Kyle Pease Foundation, Nate Flanders was simply looking for ways to get involved in sports.
On his 12th birthday, he was competing in the John Tanner Tri the Parks Triathlon. He watched in awe as KPF volunteer athletes assisted the para-athletes through the swim segment on inflatable kayaks. Then, as he witnessed Cougar Clifford finishing the bike portion in his hand-crank bike, something clicked.
After the race, Nate approached long-time volunteer David Burgos and asked how he could become involved. David told him about the foundation and encouraged him to become an ambassador for KPF, a conversation that marked the beginning of a journey that would change the way Nate viewed sports, teamwork, and inclusion.
As a competitive swimmer and cyclist, Nate, currently in his sophomore year at Lambert High School, is no stranger to discipline and hard work. He has been competitively swimming for 12 years for the Cumming Waves Swim Team. As a member of the Metro Atlanta Cycling Club (MACC), he has been competing for two years.
One of his most memorable experiences as a KPF volunteer athlete was at the 2025 Publix 5k, when he raced with Logan Northrup. The race was going smoothly until the last mile. The bars on the back of Logan’s chair suddenly dropped as they were coming around a corner. Up ahead was a hill. A steep one. The two had to work together to keep momentum and motivation while trying not to lose control.
The experience taught him an important lesson: Make sure the push bars are tight before the race and always carry tools. More importantly, that experience helped forge a friendship filled with jokes and unforgettable memories. For Nate, what is central to KPF mission is providing a space for connection to grow – a grass-roots, family-like atmosphere that encourages community and support for each other.
Nate has seen firsthand how participating in a race can positively affect a person’s perspective. Nate invited his friend, Max Kublik, to race with him in The 2026 Atlanta Publix 5k. “Max is an amazing kid. He’s friendly, but shy. During the race, I watched him start conversations with people while I was struggling up hills. I remember asking, ‘Max, how can you be so friendly and so shy at the same time?’ He told me he was really enjoying meeting people and talking to them.”
Nate saw a spark of confidence in Max. That spark grew into a fire as the race went on. Now, Nate gets text messages from Max almost every day as they are making plans to qualify for and run together in The AJC Peachtree Road Race.
One of the biggest lessons Nate learned through volunteering is the importance of empathy and grace. “The athletes motivate me to work harder. They remind me that whatever challenges I’m facing are nothing compared to what some of them deal with every day. That’s something I always keep in mind.”
The young ambassador aims to change perceptions of people with disabilities and establish valuable opportunities for them. “I want this to be an all-sports thing. I know it’s a stretch. But I want the push-assist division to be in the Paralympics.”
Nate & Kevin on the Silver Comet
I first met Nate at The Silver Comet when my dad and I joined Kyle and Brent on one of their last training rides before they headed off for the IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Besides Kyle and Brent, the whole Kona team was there – Steve Barth, Jason Linscott, and Greg Smith. There was a buzz in the air. Initially, Nate, my dad and I were only planning on riding a portion of the 100 miles. As the day went on, we kept encouraging each other and eventually completed 100 miles.
“I reflect on those memories often.” Nate shared. “Everyone crossing into Alabama together, able-bodied athletes, Kevin and Kyle. We were all included.”
Ultimately, Nate’s KPF journey has taught him that sports are about far more than medals, finish times, or competition. They are about belonging, friendship, and sometimes, they are about discovering that you are capable of far more than you might ever imagine. Nate summed it up, “Challenges are easier to overcome when you’re a part of a team, and some of the best memories come from doing hard things together.”
Nate got involved to share his enthusiasm for endurance sports and help support others to cross finish lines. But his belief in teamwork, inclusion, and belonging, along with racing with like-minded people, made him realize that this can extend beyond athletics. It’s about discovering that you are capable of far more than you ever imagined, especially when you have a team alongside you.
