Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Hunt.
Hi Dana, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In late 2023, I was diagnosed with a rare variation of Motor Neuron Disease—primarily upper motor neuron. Basically, my voluntary muscles are shutting down. The doctors explained that one day I might not be able to move or speak. Most MND cases are ALS, and regardless of the exact type, the reality is life-altering.
It was one of those moments where life splits in two: before and after. But instead of slowing down, I did the opposite. I leaned in. Hard.
Together with my cofounder—and resident superhuman—Iva Velkovska, we launched into a whirlwind of bucket-list adventures. In just over a year and a half, we traveled to 23 countries and lived countless once-in-a-lifetime moments.
We danced through Amsterdam on King’s Day, plunged into an icy fjord off a sauna raft in Norway, skydived over the Palm in Dubai, and got lost in the Amazon for nine days. We high-fived Christ the Redeemer, floated in a hot air balloon in Cappadocia, rode Vespas down the Amalfi Coast, and explored the Maldives by Seadoo. I met peacocks, wolves, stingrays, elephants, and more. We drank gold-dusted cappuccinos at the world’s only seven-star hotel and watched the Eiffel Tower light up the night. Every trip reminded us: life didn’t end with diagnosis—it just demanded we live differently.
Oddly enough, my first symptoms began right as I started learning to paraglide. My instructor noticed my leg wasn’t responding like it should. It was subtle at first—just enough to hint that something bigger was going on. As my mobility declined, so did my ability to launch on my own. I found myself watching from the cliffs as others soared through the sky—wings working, mine clipped.
Then came Bobby—my best friend, tandem pilot, and the muscle behind the magic. “I think we can get you back in the air,” he said. And he meant it.
Through pure grit and creative problem-solving, Bobby helped engineer adaptive techniques that allowed me to fly again—even if it meant being thrown off cliffs (lovingly, of course). He was the friend that instead of saying “no” figured out how. And in those moments—feet off the ground, air under my wings—I felt free. I wasn’t a diagnosis. I was me again.
Iva saw it too—that spark, that peace. She carried my bags and sometimes carried me through our travels, but she never once let me lose sight of the joy. She’s a Boston Marathon finisher, a HYROX world qualifier, and a force of nature in human form. Together, we realized this freedom I felt from flying—this return to self—was something we had to share. Iva is equal parts powerhouse and heart. She’s the one cheering loudest from the launch. The one making sure everyone—from our team to our participants—feels held, lifted, and unstoppable.
We realized we had something too good not to share. That’s how Adaptive Impact was born.
We’re not just a nonprofit. We’re a movement—redefining what’s possible through adaptive adventure. Whether it’s paragliding or pushing past limits in new ways, we’re proving that mobility challenges don’t mean missing out.
With Iva’s nonprofit background, Bobby’s can and WILL do spirit, and my refusal to stop living fully, we created something that gives people exactly what I was given: a moment of freedom. A return to self. A reminder that the story doesn’t end with diagnosis.
Since going public with my diagnosis
At the start of 2025, strangers from around the world have reached out through my Instagram and TikTok, @imkickingthebucketlist, asking how they can fly too. And now, they can.
People are flying in from all over the country—like the woman with ALS coming this weekend from the East Coast, or the man with a spinal cord injury planning a family trip just to take a flight with me. They’re not just flying; they’re reclaiming something they thought was lost.
Every reaction we get—every tear, every laugh, every “I didn’t think I could do this”—confirms what we already knew: Adaptive Impact is making a difference. It’s offering people a break in the storm. A few moments of peace. Of power. Of being.
So yeah—this isn’t just about flying.
It’s about fighting for the parts of yourself that illness can’t touch.
It’s about adapting boldly, living fully, and doing it together.
Because when you can no longer walk, we learn to fly!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not. It’s been a difficult road—but I truly believe it’s the only road that could’ve brought us here.
There are three major obstacles we’ve faced on this journey: getting to this point, staying funded so we can keep going and growing, and dealing with things completely out of our control—like the weather.
1. Getting to this point.
Through my own diagnosis, I went through a complete transformation—physically, emotionally, and mentally. For the first year and a half, I was in escape mode. I wasn’t ready to face the full weight of what was happening, so I traveled. I chased experiences. I lived loudly.
But eventually, as my mobility declined, I could no longer outrun the reality. Life was changing—and fast. The version of life I once knew was no longer accessible to me. And I didn’t want to acknowledge that.
One of the turning points came during a trip to Aspen with Iva and some close friends. The plan was skiing and a concert. I’d already accepted that I’d just sit out on the slopes—I couldn’t walk unassisted anymore. That’s when someone mentioned Challenge Aspen, a nonprofit that offers adaptive skiing. I resisted the idea at first. I wasn’t ready to admit I needed help to keep doing what I loved.
But I spoke with them. They were kind, understanding, and even offered grant assistance because of my diagnosis. Honestly, I don’t know if I would’ve tried it without that support. But I did—and I loved it.
By the end of the weekend, I was bombing down the same mountains as everyone else. And I realized something important: joy was still possible. I just had to be willing to accept that it might look different than it used to.
That weekend changed everything. It planted the seed for Adaptive Impact. Iva saw the shift in me too, and from there, we began building something that could give others that same sense of freedom.
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2. Funding.
Being a new nonprofit, we’ve had to get creative. We’ve already seen a lot of success early on, but we have big dreams—bigger than our current budget. We want to offer more flights, serve more people, and expand what we do. Right now, cover the cost of flights on a need-based basis, and many of our participants choose to donate the cost of their flight—or even cover their own and pay it forward for someone else (cost of two flights!).
But we’re constantly walking that line: offering what we can, while watching the budget. If we hit a point where we can’t fund more flights, we move to a waitlist. Personally, I hate the idea of turning anyone away from this experience, so I’m actively working on building more donor support and partnerships to sustain and grow our reach.
Right now, every one of us is a volunteer. No salaries. No admin bloat. Every dollar goes straight to our mission—bringing adaptive adventure to those who need it most. It’s been one of the most rewarding efforts of my life, but it’s also a true test of endurance, heart, and hustle.
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3. Mother Nature.
One of our most unpredictable challenges is weather. Paragliding is completely dependent on conditions—especially for adaptive flights. We need ideal wind patterns to safely launch and land, and that’s not something we can plan months out. At best, we can begin to forecast about three days in advance.
That means we ask our participants—especially those traveling in—to give us a flexible window. It’s not always easy, but when we catch the right moment, it’s pure magic.
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Every step of this journey has come with its challenges. But what we’ve gained—the impact we’ve witnessed—is worth every obstacle. Adaptive Impact was built from a place of personal transformation, and we’re turning that into collective transformation for others who just need a moment of freedom. A reminder of who they are beyond their diagnosis.
And we’re just getting started.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Adaptive Impact?
Adaptive Impact is a nonprofit redefining what’s possible through adaptive adventure. Our core offering is adaptive paragliding experiences—empowering individuals with mobility challenges to take flight, both literally and emotionally. But what we’re really doing is creating moments of freedom. A return to self. A powerful reminder that your diagnosis does not define your story.
What sets us apart is that this wasn’t born from theory—it was born from lived experience. My own journey with Motor Neuron Disease eventually led me to fly again—adaptively. That moment of reclaiming my identity, my joy, and my sense of possibility was too life-changing not to share.
Together with my cofounder, Iva Velkovska—a superhuman hybrid athlete and nonprofit powerhouse—and Bobby Brown, our tandem pilot and resident problem-solver, we created a system that makes flight possible for people like me, no matter their diagnosis or mobility level.
We specialize in making the impossible feel possible. From adaptive trikes (our “sky wheelchair”) to assisted launches and good old-fashioned teamwork, we find a way. Always. Whether it’s engineering custom setups or rallying a crew of determined humans with strong backs and even stronger hearts, we make it happen.
What we’re known for? The look on someone’s face the moment their feet leave the ground. The laughter. The tears. The disbelief that something this freeing is still available. And maybe most importantly, the community we’ve built—one where people feel seen, supported, and celebrated.
Right now, we’re 100% volunteer-run. No salaries. Every dollar we raise goes directly to our mission. Many of our participants choose to donate the cost of their flight—or even sponsor flights for others. And when we can, we offer need-based support so no one misses out because of financial barriers.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is that we’re real. Raw. Relatable.
Adaptive Impact isn’t just about adventure—it’s about reclaiming moments of joy and identity, even as life changes in ways you never asked for.
It’s about finding joy in the chaos.
It’s about turning adversity into impact.
If there’s one thing I want people to take away, it’s this:
When your body says no, your spirit still gets to say yes.
And we’ll be there to help you fly.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
For us, it’s resilience—hands down. Adaptive Impact was built on it. It’s what drives us forward through every challenge, whether it’s navigating a new diagnosis, adapting equipment, chasing unpredictable weather, or figuring out how to fund a brand-new nonprofit. Resilience is what allows us to keep showing up, keep finding solutions, and keep lifting others—literally and figuratively.
Of course, resilience alone doesn’t fund adaptive flights. That’s where our community comes in.
If people want to support what we do, we’re incredibly grateful for any help. There’s a donate link on our website and in all our social media bios. We’re a registered 501(c)(3) under our legal name: Generation Impact DBA Adaptive Impact—and many companies offer donation matching, which can double the impact of a gift.
But we also know that not everyone is in a position to donate. Another powerful way to support our mission is simply by following us on Instagram (@adaptiveimpact) and sharing our content. Every follow, like, and share helps raise awareness—and that awareness is what brings in participants, donors, and partnerships that help us keep this dream alive.
Pricing:
- Donate the cost of one Adaptive Flight! – $200
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theadaptiveimpact.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adaptiveimpact
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574968239181
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@imkickingthebucketlist
