The conversation starts with a simple premise: when access is designed into sports, athletes don’t just participate—they excel. We sit down with Sportable’s Director of Strategic Partnerships to unpack how a small Richmond nonprofit grew from four staff to sixteen, expanded to 18+ adaptive sports, and hosted back‑to‑back National Wheelchair Basketball Association championships, all while keeping independence at the center of every program. The result is a ground‑level view of what it takes to build pathways from first‑time participants to elite competitors without losing the social heartbeat that keeps people coming back.

We explore how new programs come to life—like adaptive golf—by aligning athlete interest with community partners such as First Tee Greater Richmond, VSGA, and indoor golf facilities that make year‑round training possible. You’ll hear the nuts and bolts of adaptations that unlock performance: racing chairs vs handcycles, vertical carts that enable a full swing, and the coaching frameworks that emphasize independence over dependency. We also talk logistics and scale: traveling seasons for wheelchair basketball and rugby, Richmond Region Tourism’s role in landing national events, and the Henrico Sports & Event Center’s accessibility features that set a new bar for hosting. Along the way, we hit on why demand is rising—more Paralympic coverage, stronger DEI commitments, and social media that finally shows adaptive sport at full speed.

Volunteers and sponsors are the force multipliers. From one‑to‑one cycling support on the Capital Trail to tournament clock crews and hospitality, consistent hands make programs safer and more sustainable. Fundraising blends program sponsorships with a citywide tailgate drive that turns stories into support and unrestricted dollars into gear, staffing, and transport. Through it all, we keep returning to a core idea: equitable experiences. If pro events have hydration partners, branding, and seamless operations, then adaptive events should, too—and Sportable is building that standard in RVA.

Want to get involved, play, or partner? Visit sportable.org and follow @SportableRVA. If this story moved you, share it with a friend, subscribe for more unfiltered entrepreneur and nonprofit spotlights, and leave a review so others can find the show.

www.themrpreneur.com