The Kyle Pease Foundation Celebrates Inclusion at the 2025 LifeTime Chicago Half Marathon

The Kyle Pease Foundation (KPF) is proud to announce a historic milestone in endurance sports: for the first time in the KPF’s history, we will have a push-assist DUO Team representing The Kyle Pease Foundation in the 2025 Life Time Chicago Half Marathon on September 28, 2025.

Leading this groundbreaking moment, Andrew and Kathy Labus will proudly represent The Kyle Pease Foundation as the first DUO Team to participate in the event this September. This Mother-Son duo joined KPF at the TCS New York City Marathon in 2023.  Their presence embodies KPF’s mission of creating opportunities for athletes with disabilities to compete and thrive in sports at every level.

“This historic step by the Life Time Chicago Half Marathon demonstrates the power of inclusion,” said Brent Pease, Executive Director. “Andrew and Kathy are paving the way for more athletes to follow in the Chicago Marathon, and their efforts will inspire countless others to dream bigger.”

The Kyle Pease Foundation remains committed to fostering inclusivity and breaking down barriers in sports, ensuring every athlete has the chance to experience the joy of competition.

Good Luck Andrew and Kathy Labus!

A Partnership of Purpose

Thornton Wealth Management & The Kyle Pease Foundation

Inclusion isn't just a goal. It's a commitment. It's a call to action. It's a responsibility. This is a philosophy that both Thornton Wealth Management and The Kyle Pease Foundation share. Their partnership is a testament to the power of giving individuals of all abilities the opportunity to experience the joy of sport.

The partnership began at the 29029 Everesting Event, an endurance challenge where participants hike the vertical equivalent of Mount Everest in just 36 hours. There, Braelin Thornton, the founder of Thornton Wealth Management, met Brent Pease, the co-founder and executive director of The Kyle Pease Foundation.

"The inclusion that The Kyle Pease Foundation champions, both on and off the mountain, is incredibly meaningful," Braelin explained. "It’s a message we believe in deeply at Thornton Wealth Management, and we knew we wanted to support a mission like KPF's."  As a six-time Red Hat finisher of the event, Braelin was especially inspired to get involved when she learned KPF was building a team to participate.

Brent was a natural fit to help train participants for the climb. He was hired as the event's head coach by 29029 co-founder, Marc Hondulich, after coaching him through an IRONMAN event. The first KPF team took to the mountain in 2022.

"KPF recognizes how unique and life-changing this event is to all who tackle the mountain," said KPF's Development Director, Morgan Pappas. "It naturally fits into our mission of changing the lives of individuals with disabilities through sports and beyond."

The collaboration between TWM and KPF goes far deeper than a typical sponsorship. It's about changing lives and building community. Braelin hopes this partnership will serve as a model of what is possible when philanthropic-driven businesses come together with like-minded individuals.

For Braelin, the connection between her business and the foundation's mission is clear. "Helping families plan for the future is about more than numbers; it's about creating security and opportunity," she said. "That’s why our work with KPF means so much. Inclusion is part of building a strong foundation, too. In business, success is only meaningful when you can share it."

The results of their shared efforts are powerful. The KPF team at 29029 has grown from 5 members in 2022 to 55 in 2025. With each new teammate comes more visibility for inclusion, which in turn raises more funds to purchase adaptive equipment, allowing more challenged athletes to experience the joy of inclusive sports.

The journey doesn't stop here. Together, TWM and KPF are preparing for the next chapter to include additional events beyond the mountain to expand KPF’s engagement opportunities. The 29029 Everesting Challenge has been a mecca for hikers coming together to “Everest for Those Who Can’t” and achieve a goal bigger than themselves.

Braelin agrees. "When you climb with purpose, in business or in sport, you realize the summit isn’t just about you. It’s about who you bring with you. That’s why this partnership matters."

For businesses considering a similar partnership, the message is simple:

When you align with purpose, the impact lasts a lifetime.

From Courtroom to Race Course

Meet Push-Assist Teammate, Noah Pines

Written By Kevin Enners

At The Kyle Pease Foundation, push athletes are the engine behind some of our best race-day memories. They’re the ones sweating alongside adaptive athletes through the miles so that athletes of all abilities can feel the thrill of the finish line.

Powered by caffeine and dad jokes, is Noah Pines, a criminal defense lawyer who has spent 30 years in court, yet somehow still finds the time to run races. Married to his wife Jen for 26 years — who has also pushed with KPF — Noah is a proud dad to Jack, a law student, and Lindsey, who is pursuing a master’s in speech pathology and has volunteered with KPF at Camp Wheel-A-Way. He’s also a big dog lover, with a rescued Golden Retriever from China, a mutt, a grand-dog, and even a grand-cat.

“I’m still not sure I consider myself a runner,” he says. “I just happen to do it… a lot.”

Noah’s entry into KPF wasn’t the result of some inspirational movie moment, but rather a spur-of-the-moment decision in 2019 when he signed up for an endurance hiking event, 29029. He saw a post about KPF from 29029’s coach, Brent. Noah turned to his wife, Jen, and said, “Hey, we should try it.” That was it. The emotional hook would sink in later.

“When I saw the pictures from our first 5K and saw the smile on our athlete’s face… That was the moment I knew I wanted to stay involved.”

So, Noah buckled down and got to training seriously…. Sort of. Noah’s training philosophy had been straightforward: do enough running so race day doesn’t kill you. Since 2020, he’s kept a steady diet of a weekly 5K and 10K. He had promised himself that he wouldn’t go overboard, that the goal wouldn’t be distance related. Rather it would be to stay sharp for the local 5ks and 10ks offered on KPF’s race schedule.

But all that changed in 2023 when something clicked in his mind, and he decided to register for the Marine Corps Marathon — an event he had always sworn he would never attempt. He committed to 20 weeks of training, and after crossing the finish line, he told himself it would be the last marathon he would ever push.

That was until The Disney Marathon, where Noah took on the Disney Dopey challenge: a 5K, a 10K, a half marathon, and a full marathon over four consecutive days. The Dopey challenge took 20 weeks of training, with 5 runs a week. Noah only missed 2 days of training in those 20 weeks, completing 98 percent of his training. Motivation, he admits, is the real battle. “Especially when it’s cold or raining,” he says. “But here’s the thing, it’s not going to get done by itself.”

Like many others, Noah says the start line always comes with nerves, whether it’s three miles or twenty-six. “I’m always nervous. But once we start, it’s all about my athlete. I want them to have the best possible experience… and to make sure we get a lot of pictures. Because if you don’t have pictures, did it really happen?”

Whatever the distance, he sets one goal: to make sure his teammates feel engaged and fulfilled. He tries to maximize their experiences by keeping it real and cracking jokes. “I don’t know if they think I’m funny, but I try. It’s a lot of dad humor, which is dangerous territory. Most importantly, I let them know I am there for them and I want them to have the best experience possible…even if we won’t be going fast. But if I can get them laughing, that’s a win.”

Ask Noah for his most memorable race and he’ll give you the Disney Marathon saga. Around mile 11, he was handed a new wheel to deliver to a team with a broken chair.

“As I was leaving the Magic Kingdom, I heard Operations Manager Zach Watson yell my name. He told me that there was a chair with a broken wheel at mile 12, that he needed me to take them a new wheel, and that he would try to meet me at mile 17 or 18 to get the broken wheel from me. I realized it was symbolic carrying it in honor of all the KPF athletes.”

Other standout moments for him include the Publix Half Marathon, which he calls a favorite because of the way the entire community comes together the night before to celebrate KPF athletes and honor Brent and Kyle’s vision for the foundation.

Being a push athlete has also changed Noah’s outlook. “I’ve learned to appreciate the journey more. The athletes inspire me to keep going when I want to stop. I’m grateful for the opportunity to push.” He emphasizes that the KPF athletes are competitive, impressive, and determined, and that their strength pushes him forward even when he feels like stopping.

This year, Noah’s heading back to Disney, but his participation in the marathon as a runner is questionable. “When I crossed the finish line last year, I made Brent, Kyle, Zach, and my daughter Lindsey promise to never let me sign up for another marathon again. We’ll see how that goes.”

Looking ahead, Noah also hopes to make an impact beyond the racecourse: raising funds, sponsoring events, and bringing in new volunteers to expand KPF’s reach. For Noah, the mission is bigger than the miles. “Inclusion means more than pushing wheelchairs at races. We need to create other areas of inclusion for our athletes.”

Noah has his share of quirks as an athlete. He insists on coffee before every race, considers it more important than food, and laughs at the fact that he never stretches. After a race, you can often find him at Waffle House celebrating with his teammates. His favorite season to race in is fall, and he relies on his Coros Watch to keep him on pace. He dreams of a flat course with 60-degree weather, not the 30-degree rain and hills of The Atlanta Publix Half-marathon and sums up race day in one word: Nerves.

His advice for anyone thinking about getting involved?  SHOW UP.  Don’t overthink it, don’t wait until you feel “ready.” Just put yourself on the start line. “The energy, the people, and the cause will carry you further than you expect. It will be the most rewarding run you’ve ever done.”

And above all, Noah wants people to know: “KPF is more than a charitable organization, it is a family. A family that has welcomed me and will welcome anyone who is willing to show up, so show up!”

In My Wheels | Chase Hutchins

“This isn’t just a wheelchair. It’s freedom.”

At The Kyle Pease Foundation, inclusive racing is just the beginning. We’re committed to creating access and opportunity that extend far beyond the finish line.

In this episode of In My Wheels, meet Chase Hutchins, the 2025 recipient of the Bethany Rutledge Courage Award. Through this award, Chase received an all-terrain power wheelchair — a transformative piece of equipment that redefines his daily independence.

Because at KPF, it’s not just about racing. It’s about breaking barriers — wherever they exist.

Produced By Kevin Enners and The Kyle Pease Foundation

Partnership Spotlight | Crisp + KPF

The Kyle Pease Foundation and Crisp Partner to Spotlight Competitive Push-Assist Division at AJC Peachtree Road Race

The Kyle Pease Foundation (KPF), a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities through sports, has partnered with Crisp, an award-winning video production and law firm growth company, to release a new video highlighting the exclusivity and impact of the Competitive Push-Assist Division at the AJC Peachtree Road Race.

Held annually on July 4th, the Peachtree Road Race is the world’s largest 10K, drawing tens of thousands of runners from across the globe. Since 2013, The Kyle Pease Foundation has fielded athlete-teammate duos who compete by pushing specially designed racing chairs along the course, empowering athletes with disabilities to experience the race firsthand.

The newly released video, produced by Crisp, tells the story of the elite Competitive Push-Assist Division—a capped field of athlete-teammate teams who meet specific performance, fundraising, and training benchmarks. Unlike the Open Division, which welcomes broader participation, the Competitive Division is reserved for athletes and teammates who demonstrate the highest levels of endurance, strategy, and teamwork.

“The Competitive Division represents the intersection of inclusion and excellence,” said Kyle Pease, Co-Founder and Director of Inclusion for The Kyle Pease Foundation. “This is not just about finishing a race—it's about racing to compete. We’re grateful to Crisp for helping us showcase the dedication of these teams in such a powerful way.”

Featuring emotional storytelling, cinematic visuals, and reflections from both athletes and teammates, the video celebrates the spirit of teamwork and highlights how inclusion can be both meaningful and high-performing. It offers an inside look at the passion, training, and purpose that define KPF’s mission.

“Partnering with The Kyle Pease Foundation allowed us to amplify a story that truly matters,” said Michael Mogill, CEO of Crisp. “These athlete-teammate duos are redefining what’s possible, and we’re honored to help bring their voices to the forefront.”

The video will serve as a core storytelling asset for The Kyle Pease Foundation across its digital platforms, partner outreach, and future event campaigns. It also aims to inspire more community members to support adaptive athletes through volunteering, donating, or participating in future races.