Brandon Sorensen

From the Saddle to the Summit: Supporting The Ability Experience

The Mission: 29,029 Feet. 1 Mountain. Limitless Abilities.

If you’ve known me for a while, you know that my heart belongs to a mission that started years ago with Push America—now known as The Ability Experience. You might remember seeing photos of me sweating through the humidity during my Gear Up Florida rides, riding side-by-side with incredible teammates, and participating in friendship visits that forever changed how I view community, empathy, and inclusion.

Those countless miles on the bike taught me that when we challenge our own physical boundaries, we create a platform to highlight and support the amazing capabilities of people with disabilities.

Now, I’m trading the bike saddle and gears for hiking boots and trekking poles, and the (mostly) flat roads of Florida for a steep mountain face in Stratton, Vermont.

Why 29029?

From October 22–25, I am taking on the 29029 Challenge. The goal is brutal but simple: hike up the mountain, take the gondola down, and repeat until I have climbed 29,029 vertical feet—the exact height of Mount Everest—all within a strict 36-hour time limit.

This isn't a race against others; it’s a mental and physical test of endurance. Every single step up that mountain is going to hurt. But every time I want to quit, I’ll be thinking about why I’m out there. I am hiking as a member of Team Ability Experience to promote a community where everyone, regardless of physical or intellectual ability, is recognized, included, and empowered.

How Your Donation Helps

The Ability Experience uses these funds to build accessible equipment, fund fully enabled athlete camps, construct ramps, and host life-changing programs that bring people together.

I’ve seen the impact of this organization firsthand on the ground during my previous campaigns. I've had a first row seat to seeing how perceptions are shattered, lives are impacted and I know exactly how far a dollar goes when it comes to the organizations we support and the work they do in their communities.

Join Me on the Climb

I am taking on the mountain, but I absolutely cannot reach the summit alone. Whether you can give $29 (one dollar for every 1,000 feet), $100, or more, your support will be the fuel that keeps my legs moving when the mountain gets steep and the night gets cold.

Thank you for backing me during Gear Up Florida, and thank you for standing by me as I tackle Everest. Let’s make a difference, one vertical foot at a time!