KPeasey Nation, Together We Wheel... AGAIN!

I started writing this after a 21 mile training run on March 7th.  That started with 14 solo miles at 530 in the morning.  Then Kyle joined me for an easy 2 miles, which led us to the start line of a 5k, which we knew was happening and had planned it as part of our day.  We ran a 5k HARD as part of our training and then finished with 2 more easy miles.  That was a good day, that was when we started talking about what we really wanted out of Boston.  What we wanted Lizzie to experience and what we wanted to share together.  We were clear of months of hard work with Publix, clear of 280 runners and volunteers and thankful for the entire experience.  Now it was onto Boston we said to each with smiles from ear to ear.  Then things changed, the world shifted and things started to slow down here in Atlanta and really, all over.

We were both okay with Boston potentially being postponed (it has since been moved to September 2020), we were both okay with a chance to catch our breath.  Then we realized that there would be no races until at least April.  That meant so many of our families were losing a very special part of their routine.  For many in the state of Georgia the support structure changes drastically at 21.  For many that means no school programs, no after school programs, and quite honestly, not a lot of places to go.  Our weekend races were often a great outlet for all that we serve.  The 26 events we had planned this year quickly lost 6 weekends (and counting). That is more than 40 athletes impacted by this changes, 40 less interactions and less chances to just smile with each other and the KPeasey Community.

So pick a word, a phrase and image and sear it into your mind.  To loosely quote Andy Dufresense, "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things..." For me? I will go in my mind to right before we entered the chute in KONA.  I looked down at my brother who was already arching his back and getting excited at what was in front of us.  What I realized in that moment was that I had enjoyed a front row seat to one of the greatest athletic accomplishments I may ever know.  I watched a man confined to a wheelchair take on one of the hardest endurance challenges on the planet.  So if its Boston in September or a 5k with us in Atlanta, TOGETHER WE WHEEL… and will do it AGAIN!

Thank you all for being a part of our KPeasey family, and thank you all for giving us so much hope and joy during this time.

Brent Pease
Executive Director

Update to KPeasey Athletes & Families - COVID-19

Dear KPF Family:

As the global concern around the Coronavirus (COVID-19) increases we wanted to reach out to you with an update on what The Kyle Pease Foundation is doing to prepare. 

All volunteers and athletes who have recently traveled to China, Italy, South Korea and Iran are asked to notify us immediately. If you have recently traveled to an impacted country we will ask that you refrain from participating in an event with us for a minimum of two weeks. If you have had prolonged exposure to people who have recently returned from international travel to an impacted country, we ask that you notify us. 

Please do not plan to attend an event with KPF if you are sick. If you have a fever of 100.4 or greater you will need to be fever-free for 24-hours without the use of fever reducing medications in order to race. We are asking that you exercise caution and good judgement around your health and the health of those around you.  If you have any signs of illness including fever, cough, or trouble breathing please contact us and let us know that you are not able to attend the event. 

Race chairs are cleaned post-race and will be thoroughly disinfected prior to next usage. While it is not believed that Covid-19 can be transmitted through sweat we will take extra precautions in cleaning all race equipment. 

The CDC recommends that you practice infection control like you would for any other virus. This includes:

·       Staying home when you have a fever of 100.4 or greater and not returning to work until you are fever-free for 24-hours without the use of fever reducing medication

·       Avoid touching your eye, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands

·       Avoid close contact with people who are sick

·       Cover you sneeze with a tissue and throw it away immediately, cough into your elbow, not your hands

·       Wash your hands for at least 20-seconds following the guidelines in the handwashing technique video. If soap is not available use hand sanitizer (70% or higher alcohol content)

·       Clean and disinfect high touch areas and frequently touched objects

 The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19 unless caring for someone with COVID-19.

We encourage you to get the most accurate, up-to-date information from the Centers for Disease Control. While there are confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Georgia, the CDC believes that the risk to the general public remains low. We will continue to monitor the CDC and Georgia Department of Public Health’s recommendations. As new information emerges, we will continue to assess the risks and make all necessary adjustments. 

If you are concerned about your health, or the health of those around you please let us know. Our athletes well-being is of utmost importance and we understand if you cannot make a race.

The Publix Half Exceeds KPeasey's Wildest Dreams

Several years ago when we wrote our first children’s book titled “Where There’s a Wheel, There’s a Way”, I started it off with the following stanza: “Never in my wildest dreams, though believing that I can. Did I think I’d hear the announcer say, Kyle Pease, You’re an Ironman.”

Well just as I thought that that was a wild dream, I am dreaming wild again because never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that the Kyle Pease Foundation would grow and grow and grow to a point that we would fill up a ball room in a major Atlanta hotel.  But it happened, when 64 athletes and over 200 volunteers came together to support inclusion and to show what is truly possible last weekend prior to the Publix Half Marathon..

What made the weekend doubly special for our home city of Atlanta was the fact that we also played host to the US Olympic marathon trials on Saturday. This brought more than 20,000 guests to our fair city allowing onlookers to have a front row seat to Olympic history while also witnessing KPeasey history the following day. Many who watched the Olympic trials then lined the streets of Atlanta and watched our athletes motoring 13.1 miles around The Big Peach.

From the large crowd that filled the banquet hall and the very Inspiring speeches by Ryan Freesemann and Bryce Wooten. to the the race itself, there was no shortage of inspirational moments. After watching all the beautiful faces I was so overwhelmed with emotions and so proud of everything that we accomplished as a foundation that the race itself was simply the icing on the cake. It goes to show you together we wheel and together we are showing the world what inclusion is all about. 

A special thank you to the Atlanta Track Club for again making our involvement in this race one of their high priorities. We feel so incredibly grateful to the ATC for helping us create such an amazing race for our athletes and volunteers. Also a huge hats of to Brent and to Shawn Gray, our new Race Operations Director, and to Kevin Enners and Lisa Switzer for their amazing work in pulling the event together.

See our full photo album of the Publix Race

KPF Volunteers Keep the Wheels Turning for Inclusion!

The KPF Volunteer Experience
This race isn’t about me, it’s about the person in front of me.

KPF volunteers love what they do, click here to learn more about their experiences: 

On Kyle and Brent:

I met Kyle and Brent on my first race at the Publix Half Marathon. I have interacted with them since and every single time there is always a positive remark made about how thankful they are for me. This is so special because they see how hard I work and try for them and they acknowledge it and support me, always.

A fond memory is of riding around with Kyle at Augusta 70.3 to cheer on Justin and Justin. The best part was seeing how invested Kyle was in their success and even more so in the way he lifted them up even upon not completing the race.  He reminded them of the reason and that there was lots of inclusion shared that day 

I was so impressed with their commitment to the community. Brent and Kyle are inspirational beyond their physical feats because they inspire ordinary people to be change agents one race at a time.  

On being a KPF volunteer for Inclusion

Knowing that I may never be the fastest out there but that even I can bring so much joy and cheer to someone else’s life.  

What motivates me to volunteer?  All the great people connected to this organization. 

Endorphins and the social aspect of it is so fun too!

It just feels good to do things for other people. Whether they have special needs or not. 

On racing for Inclusion:

At the start line I am stressing about being good enough, it is a hard place for me to be but I am looking down and remembering that this race is not about me, it is about the person in front of me.  

It's all about having a good time and having fun

I get super chatty with my athlete and my push assist teammates because I want everyone to have a great time.

I do not ever look at my watch and run only by feel. I remember the crowds and people that are cheering me on. They have so much belief in me.

It is so encouraging when others on the course tell you their stories and are excited to learn more about the in chair athlete as a person and competitor, no different from any one else out there.

To learn more about volunteering for Kyle Pease Foundation, email Kevin Enners, KPF Communications to kevin@kylepeasefoundation.org or click on the contact page at Kyle Pease Foundation https://www.kylepeasefoundation.org/#contact-1

The Kyle Pease Foundation

The experience is so much more than racing!

Positively Impacted Lives from the Family Perspective

“Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common.Celebrate it every day.”— Author Unknown

The Kyle Pease Foundation knows this well, succinctly summing it up in the motto, “Together We Wheel!”. Initially, a grassroots group with the goal of getting individuals who have special needs involved in road races, KPF has evolved into an experience for the whole family.

Family is a big part of the Walking with KPeasey narrative. It's about connection, reinforcing bonds among family members and building resilience for navigating life's ups and downs. Parents and siblings who champion for inclusion and support their loved ones through racing prove to be a positive impact on the entire family unit.

A veteran chair athlete and KPF employee, Justin Knight is more confident and aware of who he is and what he’s capable of.

“Meeting KPF opened up a whole new world for us to not only do something tremendous together but for J-Dude to have experiences that he never imagined,” saysTeresa Knight, Justin’s mom. “The family that we have gained in KPF is immeasurable and has totally changed our life.”

Creating a community for families typically isolated because of their diverse challenges, helps them realize they are not alone.

Chair athlete Julia Goutiex loves going fast. She loves to feel the wind blowing through her hair racing around corners with her dad, Pascal, pushing.

“Joining KPF has enabled us to meet other families going through the same stuff and helped us put things into perspective… And helped us approach life in a different way.”

Creating opportunities for families to get together, have fun and share information and resources that help in everyday living is another by-product of KPF’s mission.

Sherry Adams loves racing, according to her mom and dad.

“We get to be with other families and understand their struggles and share resources and live life to the fullest!”

These positive experiences contribute to the overall well being of families creating stronger bonds among each other and to the community.

“Kevin and I ran many road races by ourselves before joining the KPF family. Although we enjoyed doing so, we never had the sense of team and camaraderie that we now experience as part of KPF,” added Rich Enners.

Ricardo Aranda’s brother, Christian Aranda, says that “KFP has been completely life changing for our family. The opportunities we’ve been able to experience were unforgettable and would have been unachievable without KPF. We thank KPF for everything they’ve done for our family and we are forever grateful. “

A thriving environment helps us all appreciate and celebrate our differences whether you’re an in-chair athlete, push athlete or family member.