IM ABLE Foundation
Our Mission: The IM ABLE Foundation enriches lives through raising awareness about physical fitness possibilities for disabled people and encouraging and enabling disabled children to be more active.
The IM ABLE Foundation was created to build on the active lifestyles that founder, Chris Kaag, promotes to the disabled. Kaag, a disabled United States Marine, focuses his efforts on activities and events that benefit both the disabled and able bodied communities.
In 2004, the “Got the Nerve?” Triathlon event was created to raise money and awareness for the Myelin Project, an organization whose mission is to advance research on nerve damage and myelin repair. Since its inception, the Triathlon has raised over $80,000, with 2007’s fundraising effort reaching over $30,000. Chris has since been appointed to the Myelin Project’s Board of Directors and oversees fundraising efforts for the U.S. Plans are currently underway to hold the fifth Triathlon in Spring, 2008.
Building on this successful event, founder Chris Kaag wanted to continue raising awareness about the possibility of maintaining an active lifestyle by both able bodied and disabled individuals. He created the IM ABLE Foundation in 2007 and began fundraising efforts to purchase age specific handcycles as well as provide additional financial resources to the disabled child who wishes to purchase a handcycle, once he or she has demonstrated understanding of operating the equipment. Handcycles are arm powered bicycles that will allow a child with a physical impairment of the legs to "be a kid and ride a bike.”
With today’s technology, such as with the handcycles, it is possible for anyone who has a disability to increase their fitness levels, and thereby, reap the benefits of both physical and mental good health. Once the family demonstrates that they are interested and serious about implementing this fitness modality into their lives, The IM ABLE Foundation will help the family financially in purchasing a handcycle for their child. The results of their child becoming more active will create a tremendous change in their child’s demeanor and attitude toward becoming physically fit. The cost to purchase a handcycle is between $1500-$2500 per cycle.
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