Ryan Lugabihl

57:51. Six miles. One wheelchair. And one very memorable finish.

This weekend, I completed the first challenge in my year of fundraising for The Ability Experience: Charlotte’s Around the Crown 10K. My goal was to finish in under an hour while pushing my teammate, Phillip. I had originally planned on having another runner help with the pushing, but plans changed—so Phillip and I took on all 6.2 miles together and crossed the finish line in 57:51.

This was actually my third year racing with Phillip, who has Down syndrome and more energy than just about anyone in the race. He spends the entire time joking around, singing, fist-pumping people as we pass, and generally making sure everyone around us is having as much fun as he is. And apparently sitting for the entire race wasn't quite dramatic enough for him: when we reached the finish line, Phillip jumped out of the wheelchair, ripped off his shirt, and ran the final 20 yards. 

Around the Crown is one of my favorite events each year. With nearly 10,000 people participating, being able to support Phillip in experiencing that same finish line is pretty special—and a great reminder of why creating opportunities for people of all abilities matters.

And thanks to so many of you, we raised more than $1,300 for The Ability Experience from this first challenge. I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who donated, shared, encouraged us, or cheered us on.

Challenge #1 is done. Now onto #2.

On October 3, I'm heading to Lexington, South Carolina for the Dam Tri at Lake Murray: a 1,000-meter open-water swim, 21-mile bike ride, and 6K run—with much of the bike and the entire run incorporating the Lake Murray Dam.

The fundraising isn't stopping at the finish line. Next stop: swim, bike, run. 🏊‍♂️🚴‍♂️🏃‍♂️

9/6 Around the Crown 10k | Charlotte, NC

This Sunday, I’m taking on my first challenge of the year for The Ability Experience: the Around the Crown 10K⁠ here in Charlotte.

It’s a pretty incredible race. The course starts in Uptown Charlotte, heads toward South End, and then gives runners the rare opportunity to take over three miles of I-277—the highway that circles the heart of the city—before finishing at Truist Field. This year, nearly 10,000 runners are expected to participate. 

But I won’t be running this one alone. I’ll be running the 10K while pushing someone in a wheelchair—which feels like a fitting way to kick off a year of challenges benefiting The Ability Experience. The race itself celebrates athletes of all abilities, including a dedicated para start and wheelchair division. 

Six miles pushing around the Crown will certainly be a physical challenge, but that’s part of the point. I want these challenges to push me outside my comfort zone while helping create opportunities that push beyond barriers for people with disabilities.

On Sunday, every mile has a purpose. Let’s roll.

Why I’m Fundraising

The Ability Experience has always been one of the things that makes Pi Kappa Phi special to me. It’s more than our philanthropy—it has been a defining part of my fraternity experience and has shaped how I think about service, inclusion, and what it means to use the opportunities we have to create opportunities for others.

My junior year of college, I spent spring break volunteering at an Ability Camp in Clemson, SC. That experience had such an impact on me that I returned to the same camp for the next two summers, working as a counselor for children with disabilities. Years later, in 2018, I took on a very different challenge through Gear Up Florida, cycling more than 800 miles from Miami to Tallahassee to raise awareness and support for people with disabilities.

Those experiences taught me that service isn’t simply about what we give—it’s about the relationships we build, the barriers we help remove, and the way we choose to show up for other people.

This year, I want to challenge myself to keep showing up. Throughout the year, I’ll be taking on a variety of challenges, races, and events to raise money and awareness for The Ability Experience. Each one will look a little different, but they’ll all be tied to the same purpose: helping create a more inclusive world where people of all abilities are empowered to reach their full potential.

For me, this has never just been a cause attached to my fraternity experience. It’s part of the purpose I found because of it.