Co-founded by Dana Hunt, an adaptive athlete living with a rare variant of motor neuron disease (MND), and hybrid athlete and advocate Iva Velkovska, Adaptive Impact is a bold initiative aimed at empowering people with physical limitations to experience the thrill of flying. Hunt’s condition has progressed since her diagnosis two years ago, but her mission has never been clearer: open the skies to everyone, regardless of ability.
This month, Adaptive Impact made headlines with their first participants, including 25-year-old Erin Taylor - diagnosed with ALS at 23 - who took an unforgettable flight over the Pacific. Also among the early flyers was Helmut Lippert, a 90-year-old retired sailplane pilot. Despite a stroke that left him with partial paralysis and impacted speech, when asked if he enjoyed the flight, Helmut gave a joyful "Yeah," followed by an unmistakable giggle.
Instrumental to making these experiences possible is Bobby Brown, Dana's closest friend, a longtime Gliderport pilot and employees, and a founding force within Adaptive Impact. When Dana lost the ability to launch on her own, Bobby helped adapt their flying approach instead of giving it up. His mindset - "how can we?" rather than "we can’t" - helped Dana get back into the sky and ultimately inspired the foundation of Adaptive Impact. Today, Bobby serves on the board and is a certified tandem instructor, personally guiding participants with the same creativity and compassion that reignited Dana’s flying journey.
Flights are made possible through customized equipment, including an adaptive paragliding trike—essentially a secure, supportive wheelchair built for the sky. Additional launch methods are tailored to each individual, with alternative techniques and assisted crew launches available depending on mobility needs. Safety, comfort, and empowerment are at the heart of every experience.
Participants are selected through direct outreach via Adaptive Impact’s website, where they’re encouraged to share their mobility goals and personal story. The team follows up individually to ensure each flight is planned with care. Every experience is offered at no cost to the participant, supported entirely by donations, sponsors, and the generosity of the paragliding community - most notably the Torrey Pines Gliderport, which donates flights and helps manage logistics.
Adaptive Impact also collaborates closely with organizations like ALS San Diego and Carlsbad's ADAPT Movement, a training and rehabilitation center for individuals with neurological conditions and spinal cord injuries. Dana has both trained at and connected with potential participants through these relationships, forming a bridge between physical therapy and the emotional liberation that flight can offer.
Recently, the nonprofit hosted a public launch party at Moe Coffee in North Park, raising funds for its growing scholarship program. Velkovska, who ran the 2025 Boston Marathon in Dana’s honor, continues to advocate for inclusive access to adrenaline-fueled experiences, helping shift public perception around what’s possible after diagnosis.
Flights take place at Torrey Pines Gliderport, a soaring site rich in aviation history dating back to 1928. Now a designated National Landmark of Soaring and San Diego Historical Site, the Gliderport is not only an active launch site for paragliders and hang gliders, but a hub of community, history, and natural beauty. With Adaptive Impact now in the air, its legacy of innovation and daring is soaring in a new direction - toward inclusion, accessibility, and joy.
Learn more or get involved by visiting givebutter.com/AdaptiveImpact and following @adaptiveimpact and @imkickingthebucketlist on Instagram. Torrey Pines Gliderport is located at 2800 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, La Jolla. For general information, visit flytorrey.com.
Participants are selected through direct outreach via Adaptive Impact’s website, where they’re encouraged to share their mobility goals and personal story. The team follows up individually to ensure each flight is planned with care. Every experience is offered at no cost to the participant, supported entirely by donations, sponsors, and the generosity of the paragliding community - most notably the Torrey Pines Gliderport, which donates flights and helps manage logistics.
Adaptive Impact also collaborates closely with organizations like ALS San Diego and Carlsbad's ADAPT Movement, a training and rehabilitation center for individuals with neurological conditions and spinal cord injuries. Dana has both trained at and connected with potential participants through these relationships, forming a bridge between physical therapy and the emotional liberation that flight can offer.
Recently, the nonprofit hosted a public launch party at Moe Coffee in North Park, raising funds for its growing scholarship program. Velkovska, who ran the 2025 Boston Marathon in Dana’s honor, continues to advocate for inclusive access to adrenaline-fueled experiences, helping shift public perception around what’s possible after diagnosis.
Flights take place at Torrey Pines Gliderport, a soaring site rich in aviation history dating back to 1928. Now a designated National Landmark of Soaring and San Diego Historical Site, the Gliderport is not only an active launch site for paragliders and hang gliders, but a hub of community, history, and natural beauty. With Adaptive Impact now in the air, its legacy of innovation and daring is soaring in a new direction - toward inclusion, accessibility, and joy.
Learn more or get involved by visiting givebutter.com/AdaptiveImpact and following @adaptiveimpact and @imkickingthebucketlist on Instagram. Torrey Pines Gliderport is located at 2800 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, La Jolla. For general information, visit flytorrey.com.
Originally published on May 14, 2025.