KPF Continues to Adjust "Because That's What Families Do"

This video was put together by our very own, Kevin Enners. Kevin types using orbital technology at about five words per minute.  Let that sink in for a moment...FIVE words per minute and he edited this incredible video to highlight our amazing team.

As our foundation has grown, so has our support structure.  We are incredibly proud of our team and all they bring to enhance the KPF experience.  While that experience has been reduced to Zoom calls, phone trees and social media of late it has not dampened our spirits.  We are incredibly hopeful for our return to racing, but we continue to be realistic about what that means for our families and their loved ones.

We recently spent some time trying to figure out what we should do if there were no racing the rest of the year, what would it look like? What would we do? We haven't quite cracked the code on that one but one of our board members said something very simple to us when he said. "you know we are doing a pretty good job."  Last year we had more than 70 unique individuals cross hundreds of finish lines together.  We held our annual camp at Twin Lakes and we helped two families secure accessible vehicles.  While we may not be in our normal, our family is still adjusting, because that's what families do.

We are incredibly thankful to our team who helps us continue to see the positive in each day, and challenges us to remain in the light! Thank you to Kevin for this incredible video, to Jdude (Justin) for his tireless spirit, to our fearless leader Kyle, to Shawna for taking on almost any task we find and to Morgan for the work on keeping the social community engaged.  Thank you to our board, our volunteers, to Mike, Dan & our Board of Directors.  Thank you for always being the best part of what we do.  We are incredibly proud and eternally grateful.

Together WE Wheel! Again,

Brent Pease ~ Executive Director

Virtual Road Race

Join KPF for our next virtual run the Virtual Road Race!

While we can't wheel together on Peachtree this July 4th, we can support Inclusion and our Peachtree Teams.  

Ways to Get Involved:
1. Join the Virtual Run - Choose Your Distance 1K, 5K, 10K... get out and move!
Registration is FREE. Donations are WELCOMED.
CLICK HERE to sign up

2. Enter KPeasey's Bib Design Contest
CLICK HERE to learn more

3. Order Your Limited Edition 2020 KPeasey Commemorative Tank Top
CLICK HERE to order.
BONUS: ALL KPeasey Gear and Books are ON SALE through July 4th!

KPeasey Nation Unites

As The Kyle Pease Foundation continues to navigate these uncertain times, we are pleased to announce that the KPeasey Nation is uniting and bringing the Utah chapter under the direction of our Board of Directors and Brent Pease, KPF’s Executive Director.

Two people that have longed been moved by the courage of others, Joe & Michelle have inspired us with their courage.  They came to us as volunteers and then, upon leaving Atlanta they became stewards of our mission, for our first "chapter" outside of our hometown.  They helped bring some amazing families into our KPF family and they continue to invest so much of their time and energy into our mission.  We are incredibly thankful to call on them as friends, and we are excited at the future of continuing to serve our mission together.  As our KPF family & support team grows in Atlanta we want to be able to serve our dear friends in Utah well, and with that we are excited to bring us all under the same roof.

Thank you Joe & Michelle for helping create impact long past the finish line. 
Together WE Wheel

Words from Michelle Guttenplan:
Joe and I met Brent many years ago while looking for a triathlon coach. Joe specifically felt like Brent was the right choice after seeing him race with Kyle. Joe's initial inspiration for competing in triathlon came from seeing the Hoyts, so he figured this was meant to be. Being a former special education teacher, speech pathologist and having my own family members with a disability, I was intrigued by the Kyle Pease foundation and loved the mission. I knew from experience that the options my Aunt (who had cognitive and visual deficits) had to participate in sports were few and far between. 

In the beginning Joe and I wanted to help via racing and requesting donations, we had not yet gained the experience of racing with an in chair athlete. When we moved to Utah, we wanted to stay connected, but weren't sure how since we were now 2,000 miles away. At that time Kyle and Brent had made connections with several families in Utah that were already racing. It seemed like this would be a great opportunity to begin a Utah chapter with a group of individuals who had similar interests. During our few years in operation in Utah, we have met and connected with some of the most wonderful people.At first,it was about inclusive sports and racing, but quickly turned into an extended family, both in Georgia and Utah. For me personally: I love the KPF mission because it makes me feel connected to my Aunt. She has influenced so many decisions in my life just by being herself. I initially went to school to be a special education teacher because of her, then became a speech pathologist for similar reasons. My Aunt was the type of person who never met a stranger. She loved people and everyone loved her in return. Kyle's personality and ability to make an instant friend reminds me so much of her. Growing up, I would attend her bowling league and sometimes serve as her partner. This was a fond memory of mine and reminds me  of what KPF provides not only individuals with disabilities, but their family members.When Joe and I moved to Utah, we were provided the opportunity to start the Utah chapter. Joe and I were really excited. I run, but didn't feel I was strong enough to participate helping athletes. This was a chance for me to give back outside of racing (Joe was racing with athletes). Getting to know all the Utah athletes and families has been amazing. Seeing a random group of people become friends while promoting inclusion is not just a bonus, it is so much of what makes the Kyle Pease Foundation amazing. It's one of those things that is hard to put into words. You almost have to experience it to understand. As a volunteer, KPF has provided me new friendships, a sense or purpose and the general joy you gain by helping others. 

What If We Don't Race in 2020? The Kyle Pease Foundation

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We need to all spend some time during our daily life to consider what a season without racing may look like.  Regardless of what cities and states decide to do, it seems clear that we are a long way off from being allowed to congregate in large gatherings again.  The goal of racing does not need to be about when we race, but just why. 

Why is racing important? What does it give you? That is the feeling we can think about as opposed to the when of racing.  Racing will come back again, when it does, we will all appreciate the gifts we gain from this sport but understanding what those gifts are might help your mental approach moving forward.  Whatever it is, you will need to answer that question.

For each of us that answer will be different, and it may shift year to year, week to week. For us here at KPF the racing is about inclusion and community.  Showing inclusion not just to our athletes but to our volunteers, families, and everyone at the races.  The community provides us the backbone for so much more of what we do.  It is those interactions we crave more than a race medal or a t-shirt.  So, what does racing mean to you?

Brent Pease - Executive Director, The Kyle Pease Foundation

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Last week my brother Brent posed the question to the board of The Kyle Pease Foundation, “What does racing mean to you?”  I pondered the question and thought that it would make a wonderful topic of this week’s blog to give readers a little insight to the possibility and the reality of this very real question, “What if we don't race in 2020?”

Currently, race organizers are scrambling to figure that out as are we. Everyone must ask themselves what a season without racing may look like. Initially the thought of that devastated me. I love to race, and our athletes love to feel like a part of the racing community. But to be frank there is a strong possibility that we may not race this year. I would have never thought I'd be writing about this in the beginning of May, but it is out of our control and we have to focus on why we love to race.

We must think about ways to engage our athletes and find alternative ways to race. Whether that is going outside with family friends, while being safe and social distancing or using your imagination that you are cheering your buddies on as they are cheering you to the finish line. I encourage you to look back at all your medals and imagine the feeling of success and accomplishment you felt when you completed a race. That feeling is one that does not escape you even when you are not out on the course. Once a winner, always a winner.

We are a part of the racing community and part of The Kyle Pease Foundation family when we are out on the racecourse and even when we are not. No athlete loses the distinction of being an athlete in between games. They are athletes on and off the field.

As a person who has a disability, like many of you, every day is like a marathon. Every day I wake up and all the challenges that might come are far more challenging than a mere 26.2 mile race - but with the help of other people and the support of my family, friends, caregivers, I make it the finish line – There may be no medal or no olive wreath at the end of each day, but I know I achieved victory and I know that one day we will be racing again.

It is my belief that the only person who can keep you from achieving your racing goals is you. Trust me when I tell you that the foundation is doing everything in our power to come up with creative ways to include everyone in an inclusive atmosphere during this challenging time.

I asked a couple of our athletes to why they like to race. Here are the thoughts shared by a couple of our athletes.

Kyle Pease - Chief Inspiration Officer, The Kyle Pease Foundation

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“It means opportunity; a great way to show what type of talent you have.”

Emmanuel McFarland

“I love racing because I love to compete with people, and I love the energy that the spectators give me.”

Bentley Grace Hicks

Kyle Shares His Cure for the Corona Blues

Under normal circumstances, one of my favorite items on my To Do list is working on my blog post with our friend, Todd Civin. Normally when we talk, we sort of wing it. We bring up a topic and write about whatever comes to mind. This week is a bit different under the circumstances we all find ourselves living with. Todd asked me a question earlier in the week that made this blog very personal to me when he asked me how the pandemic impacted myself and all my other disabled peers. This really hit home because I’m going to admit that it has knocked me for a bit of a loop.

I’ve been vigilant enough to remain healthy to this point and am trying to be confident that I’ll remain healthy for the weeks to come. But part of what I thrive on is my ability to be independent and to travel the city on my own. It helps define who I am. To find myself cooped up in my apartment and unable to travel around the city has attempted to strip me of a piece of who I am and that is a terribly scary feeling.

I had been doing little more than taking short walks around my neighborhood and haven’t been on MARTA in almost two months.  For those who know me, MARTA is my main means for traversing the city. I began feeling hopeless and isolated and for the first time in my life. I was had an angry feeling like I was trapped in a body that doesn’t work. Normally I may have that feeling on a very occasional basis, but the virus magnifies that feeling even more. I have to assume many of my less able bodied friends may be feeling the same way.

So, I’ve decided to do what KPeasey does best and that is to find the soft spot in every problem. To recreate the wheel and to stay positive and focus on life experiences I have overcome in the past. Like many of you, we have overcome bigger challenges than this and will overcome this as well.

I’m now focusing on the moment and focusing on being hopeful.  I encourage everyone able bodied and not to take this time to better ourselves and to continue to make a difference to other people in our lives through social media or by reaching out to people we haven't spoken to in a long time.

Of late, I’ve reached out to a lot of people in the Foundation to remind them that we may not be here for races for the foreseeable future, but we're a FAMILY,  and we will do whatever we need to do as a foundation to ensure that our family survives. During this COVID-19, although we are not together physically, we are connected as a family. And at the core, that is what The Kyle Pease Foundation is all about. That we are a FAMILY and that together we wheel and that we will focus on the yeses in our lives. We will focus on every success that we have overcome together, remembering that a family sticks together during the challenges. And I can't wait to see all your faces and race again very soon.

I encourage all of you to think of a moment you may have felt trapped or were feeling down. Think of a moment you have persevered and have overcome things you never dreamed possible. Focus on those moments of resilience and continue to give it your all every day. You never know the positive impact you are going to have on somebody and that impact may have the biggest difference on their lives and on your life as well.

Before leaving you with those thoughts, I want to bring to light the amazing results of our Virtual Boston Pease Party held on Virtual Marathon Monday 4.20. Followers and supporters from around the country dawned their KPeasey blue and participated on behalf of the athletes of the Kyle Pease Foundation. These 210 people represented 19 states and 74 cities. For those who view KPF as a regional foundation representing the Atlanta area, think again….We had participation from Andover to Anaheim and from Fairbanks to Florida….Far reaching and nationwide!! Because Together We Wheel!!