Hi, I'm Kyle Keech, and I sit on the fundraising committee for the IM ABLE Foundation. I get to see firsthand how our work changes lives, but nothing demonstrates that impact quite like our events. Our mission is simple but powerful: to remove obstacles that prevent people affected by disabilities from being physically active by providing grants, resources, fitness opportunities, and motivation. We change attitudes about the potential of individuals with disabilities by redefining what is possible.
I speak from experience. My own journey includes navigating life 24 years post-Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), countless surgeries to address 26 broken bones, and the occasional hiccup along the way. I know what it means to face seemingly impossible physical challenges, and that’s why I am so committed to helping others find their "IM ABLE" moment.
🏁 Redefining "Impossible" at the Races
Recently, I had the honor of competing in two of our key fundraising events: the Spartan Race and Ruck and Roll. These are more than just races; they're living demonstrations of what the IM ABLE Foundation is all about.
The Spartan Race: OORAH!
For the Spartan Race, I was part of a team of adaptive athletes—from wheelchair users like me to individuals with amputations and TBI—who tackled one of the most physically and mentally demanding obstacle courses around.
As a wheelchair user and a TBI recovery advocate, finishing that course was a battle of will. I was still smiling ear to ear at the finish line, but there were moments on that course where I had to dig deep. I shared at the time: “Boy, I'm so glad I kept pushing! The love and support I felt were incredible... IM ABLE's presence was truly powerful and left a lasting impact. OORAH!” That day, the strength of the community, and the adaptive equipment funded by IM ABLE, made all the difference.
The Challenge of Ruck & Roll
Our annual Ruck & Roll event invites people to either ruck (walk or hike with a weighted pack) or roll (a competitive handcycle or recumbent event for adaptive athletes) across challenging, hilly terrain.
It’s an action-packed day that includes courses for every ability level, all raising critical funds for adaptive equipment grants and programs. Watching everyone—able-bodied and adaptive athletes alike—push themselves to their limits on those trails is what fundraising is all about: reminding ourselves that with the right tools and community, there are truly "No Excuses, Just Move!"
🌟 Witnessing Elevated Performance: What Spectators See
For spectators, the performance of an adaptive athlete is elevated not just by speed or time, but by the sheer, unyielding perseverance on display.
When you see a wheelchair user—someone like me, who carries the history of a TBI and a host of physical setbacks—cross the finish line of a mud-soaked Spartan Race, or watch a handcycle athlete conquer the 10.5-mile challenging, hilly trail at Ruck & Roll, you are witnessing the purpose of IM ABLE brought to life. It's proof that a physical challenge does not have to be a limiting factor. It's the moment when the impossible becomes the "I'M ABLE."
How You Can Be Part of the Finish Line
By supporting the IM ABLE Foundation, you help provide the grants for hand-cycles, running blades, adaptive sports chairs, and other essential adaptive equipment, as well as the instructional training and community that makes these inspiring moments possible.
- Support the Movement: Your donation directly funds the equipment that turns a spectator into an athlete.
- Join the Conversation: Share our story and spread the word about the power of adaptive sports.
Help us give someone their "IM ABLE" moment. Click here to donate today.
