30Impact30: Revolutionizing Adaptive Recreation

Today, January 24th, is my 30th birthday, and I'm launching an ambitious philanthropic project. My goal is to have thirty times the impact of any other year of my life while I'm thirty. As a result, I am starting a project I am calling 30impact30. I am planning to raise $30,000 by leading 30 pitches of 5.7 or greater between January 24, 2025, and January 24, 2026, with sponsors pledging money for each successful pitch. In addition, I am planning to publish 30 you tube videos to teach blind people with tips and tricks for enjoying the outdoors, and to act as a video hub for blind people or parents of blind children to learn about what is possible with an active lifestyle.

The Challenge: Breaking Barriers of Isolation

An estimated 1.1 million blind Americans can't drive, facing significant mobility challenges that often lead to isolation. In addition, many other people with disabilities cannot drive, or are unable to drive some amount of the time. These people are often left out of recreational activities, simply because logistically, getting to events is too challenging. Many individuals with disabilities believe they can't participate in physical activities, leaving them disconnected from networking and community based opportunities for personal growth.

The Vision: Community, Transportation, and Empowerment

Adaptive sports organizations do more than teach skills—they provide mentorship, role models, and crucial life lessons in motivation and goal-setting. However, for many people with transportation barriers, adaptive sports are currently a dream they cannot realize. My project aims to kickstart a revolution in adaptive recreation by focusing on building supportive communities and solving transportation barriers.

Adaptive Rec Connect: Empowering athletic opportunity for all, any time, any day

As part of this initiative, I'm co-developing a web platform to address challenges in finding community members for guides for informal adaptive sports, such as regular training runs, hikes, etc. People who do not need guides can go on a run, hike, or walk whenever they wish, but for many people with disabilities, finding a guide can be half the battle. Outside of official weekly training runs, hikes, etc. such as those Achilles international offer, many people with disabilities want less formal one-on-one or small group opportunities to grow organically. MANY PLATFORMS SUCH AS FACEBOOK ARE CLUTTERED and lack an adaptive sports focus, MAKING THEM LESS IDEAL FOR ORGANIZING ADAPTIVE EVENTS. This is why, I am planning to start a platform called Adaptive Rec Connec. Adaptive Rec Connect will:

• Connect adaptive athletes with experienced guides for recreation on their own time.
• Potentially offer accessible Managed guide matching for local adaptive clubs.
• Potentially develop certification processes for guide competency, so that people can be confident when a guide offers to participate with them.
• Foster a virtual adaptive community that allows people to stay connected outside official adaptive events.
• Act as a virtual board for organizing unofficial events, like adaptive dance parties, or adaptive hiking days, really whatever community members wish to organize.

Making an Impact, One Connection at a Time

In addition to Adaptive Rec Connect, I will raise funds for 2-3 carefully selected adaptive organizations who excel at ensuring individuals who are currently unable to participate in life-changing experiences get into the outdoors. These organizations go beyond traditional programming by providing critical transportation support and community connections. Whereas many adaptive sports organizations refuse to help people carpool to events, and sometimes do not have the resources to do so, the organizations I will be raising money for are at the forefront of adaptive sports by ensuring that the people who need the numerous life lessons provided through adaptive sports receive transportation to these events, so they can begin their journey of becoming active both in sport, and other aspects of life.

I aim to support groups that:

• Create carpooling and transportation networks to bring isolated people who lack the ability to drive into the adaptive community.
• Offer programming that encourages community-building
• Encourage adaptive athletes to mentor newcomers, rather than simply offering transactional programming.

Through strategic funding, I can help individuals:

• Build meaningful friendships with peers who understand their experiences
• Develop personal confidence by accessing activities previously thought impossible
• Improve overall quality of life through consistent community engagement
• Challenge limiting beliefs about their capabilities and potential
• Break cycles of isolation by providing reliable transportation to regularly scheduled transformative events

These organizations don't just offer a ride to some location, or a chance to try out climbing, skiing, kayaking, etc. —they offer a pathway to personal growth, skill development, and community connection. By addressing the fundamental barrier of transportation, I can help people with disabilities, who otherwise may remain isolated, discover new opportunities, build support networks, and realize their full potential.

Join the Movement

This isn't just about sports—it's about breaking down barriers, creating opportunities, and proving that with the right support, everyone can pursue their passions.

Please subscribe for updates on the 30Impact30 project and how you can be part of this transformative journey. I will be updating this blog as more details about the project are solidified, including when and where you can watch me climb. To follow this project, subscribe to the project mailing list. If you have trouble subscribing, reach out to me, this google group is still not cooperating with my domains email setup. Reach out to derek@derekriemer.com if you have any suggestions, comments, or wish to sponsor the project. Thanks, and don't forget to send it!