The Kyle Pease Foundation and adidas Partner to Empower Athletes of All Abilities

The Kyle Pease Foundation (KPF) is excited to announce its partnership with global sportswear brand adidas to promote inclusivity and empower athletes of all abilities. This collaboration brings together two organizations dedicated to breaking barriers and championing diversity in sports.

The Kyle Pease Foundation, founded by brothers Brent and Kyle Pease, is renowned for its mission to create opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in endurance races. Through its programs and initiatives, KPF has empowered countless individuals to push beyond their limits and achieve their athletic goals.

adidas, a leading brand in sports and lifestyle apparel, has long been committed to promoting inclusivity and diversity in sports. By partnering with KPF, adidas aims to further its mission of making sport accessible to all and inspiring people to harness the power of sport to transform lives.

KPF Athletes and Teammates sporting adidas running shirts at the 2024 Publix Atlanta Half Marathon in Atlanta, GA.

"We are thrilled to join forces with adidas in our mission to create a more inclusive and accessible world for athletes of all abilities," said Brent Pease, co-founder of The Kyle Pease Foundation. "This partnership will enable us to reach more individuals and provide them with the support and resources they need to pursue their passion for sports."

The partnership between The Kyle Pease Foundation and adidas exemplifies the shared commitment to diversity, inclusion, and the transformative power of sports. Together, they will continue to break barriers, challenge perceptions, and inspire athletes of all abilities to reach new heights.

KPF Prepares to Push Beyond Limits at the AJC Peachtree Road Race

In February, KPF athletes and team members raced to qualify for the AJC Peachtree Road Race. The Kyle Pease Foundation used Tartan Trot as their qualifying event this year.

We are thrilled to announce the 2024 Competitive Division Teams that will be representing The Kyle Pease Foundation at the 2024 AJC Peachtree Road Race on July 4th in Atlanta, GA.

2024 COMPETITIVE DIVISION TEAMS

Dale Robinson/Chris Nasser

Ricardo Aranda/Nick Fragnito

Kyle Pease/Brent Pease

Bentley-Grace Hicks/Evan Rogers

Erika Northrop/Robert Buckley

Catherine Reed/David Glass

Darden Glass/Anna Glass

Publix Atlanta Half Marathon 2024

The Kyle Pease Foundation is back in action for the 2024 season, starting with a bang at the Publix Atlanta Half Marathon! Special thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, Strong4Life | Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM PUBLIX 2024

67 Athletes Supported

170 Teammates Pushed Beyond Limits

20 Support Crew Members Behind the Scenes

$174,000 Raised for Inclusion (and climbing)

Countless Memories and Moments with Our Community!

Come join KPF as we push boundaries, break barriers, and create lasting impact together. These are Our People... Today and Always!

KPF's Kevin Enners Writes About The Atlanta Erg Sprints At Georgia Tech

Riding the Waves of Indoor Rowing
By Kevin Enners

The echo of fly wheels reached my ears the moment we entered the gymnasium on Georgia Tech’s campus and my heart danced with excitement. It had been over a decade since my dad and I had competed in The Atlanta Erg Sprints. As we signed in, I was struck by a maelstrom of emotions.

I got into rowing in the early 2000s on an indoor ergometer, the technical term for rowing machine. Originally meant to enhance off-season training for rowers, erging is gaining popularity worldwide as a sport within itself. When I first competed, there wasn’t a classification for physical disabilities, so I competed with able-bodied rowers in a 2000-meter sprint. This year, however, I was PR3 classified (disabled rowers who have been affected in their arms, trunk, and legs) for the 1000-meter sprint.

Rowing is a tough sport. It requires a particular skillset that even the most elite rowers spend years trying to hone. Further complicating the plot, each workout on the ergometer is a dance with my cerebral palsy and dystonia.

There have been multiple revisions to the equipment that enables me to row – the early versions were archaic to say the least. However, my dad and I found an adaptive rowing seat. With this gamechanger, I was able to stabilize myself and row stronger and longer. To keep my ever-moving hands on the row bar, we use pipe insulators (purchased at Home Depot) wrapped in bike handlebar tape. Along with the security of my Active Hands, which strap my hands to the pipe insulators, I am able to row independently, confidently and safely.

 Racing tactics are very much at the forefront of erging competitions. In preparation for this year’s event, I needed to amp up my sprinting game. During my training, I had been sprinting through intervals of five minutes, following a 2k plan. So, my body was accustomed to rowing longer. Not necessarily a good thing for a 1k all-out sprint.

Even as I was warming up pre-race, I was scrambling to design my race strategy. I decided to just truncate my rowing tactics – hard for 250m, steady for 500m, then drill the last 150m. If I committed to that first set of meters, I knew I could get my breath back in the longer stretch before burying it at the end.

A sense of pride washed over me as I finished. My legs shook from the adrenaline rush. With a time of 5:30.9, I had set a record for the physically challenged division.  

Rowing has had a profound impact on me. It has taught me that we are always evolving, physically and mentally, along with our dreams and goals. Moving forward requires developing new skills and understanding that failure may rear its ugly head. Yet, we must accept the possibility that we may fail. It’s okay to fail. Sometimes, it is necessary. Failure presents an opportunity to address our flaws and transform them into our strengths.

As I get older, I find mechanical sounds very satisfying – the click of sprockets feeding a bike chain in a perpetual cycle, the whoosh of an ergometer’s fly wheel – it’s the harmonious symphony of hard work paying off. Even if it’s only for five minutes.

The Kyle Pease Foundation Continues to Support Inclusion in the Workplace

The Kyle Please Foundation Hires Sixth Inclusive Employee in Partnership with Fire Protection Services.

The Kyle Pease Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of the disabled through sports, is proud to announce the hiring of their sixth member of their Inclusive Employment Program.  Employment Partner, Fire Protection Services, is proud to have Josh Porter join their team as the Office Operations & Communications Coordinator.

"The opportunity to partner with the Kyle Pease Foundation is something we feel very fortunate about, here at FPS.  Having Josh working in the office has already made a significant impact on our team.  We knew how important it was to give this a try, but we had no idea how much it would positively impact our culture. Hopefully it inspires other businesses to open their doors to employees with disabilities" - Adam Heiser of Fire Protection Services.

The Kyle Pease Foundation Inclusive Employment Program was established in 2017 when our first inclusive employee, Justin Knight, approached KPF after he raced with us. He never asked us for a grant, but for an opportunity to join the front office team and help give back to his community, inspire by our founder, Kyle Pease.

“Inclusion doesn’t just take place on the racecourse.  Inclusion is everywhere we look.  We are proud to partner with Fire Protection Services and help extend our support Beyond the Finish with some special and wonderful people,” says Brent Pease, Executive Director of The Kyle Pease Foundation. 

Currently, The Kyle Pease Foundation employs six Inclusive Employees who play a key role in our day-to-day operations at KPF. These are individuals who have a disability and through KPF, have a strong skill set that contributes to the growth, success, and ongoing support of our KPF Athletes and their families. 

Learn More by visiting www.kylepeasefoundation.org/inclusiveemploymentprogram.

About The Kyle Pease Foundation:
The Kyle Pease Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of the disabled through sports. Founded in 2011, it is focused on generating awareness of inclusion and raising funds to promote success for persons with disabilities by aiding meet their individual needs through sports. Programs include scholarships, medical or adaptive sports equipment and contributing to organizations that provide similar assistance to disabled persons. The Foundation also participates in educational campaigns to create awareness about Cerebral Palsy and other disabilities. For more information, please visit www.kylepeasefoundation.org.