Summer Newsletter

Dear Ian’s Ride Community,

We hope everyone had a wonderful Summer Solstice! As we settle into the heart of the season, we're excited to share some of the highlights from an already busy and rewarding year at Ian's Ride.

Summer is always one of the busiest and most rewarding times of the year for Ian's Ride, and 2026 has already been filled with meaningful rides, new partnerships, and exciting progress toward our mission of making outdoor recreation more accessible for people living with paralysis and mobility disabilities.

This spring, we wrapped up our participation in the City of Port Townsend's Community Read program, which featured Ian's Ride: A Long-Distance Journey to Joy. The program provided a wonderful opportunity to share Ian's story, engage with readers throughout the community, and introduce more people to the importance of inclusion and accessibility in outdoor recreation.

In May, we recognized Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), an annual reminder that accessibility is about removing barriers and creating greater independence. This year's announcements from Apple were especially encouraging, particularly improvements to Voice Control. First, Natural Language will allow users to navigate their devices using plain, conversational speech e.g. someone can simply say, "Tap the purple folder" and Voice Control can understand what they mean. Furthermore, users can now scroll automatically by voice and use voice control through any third-party microphone. Cool stuff!

We were also proud to partner with Peninsula Trails Coalition and Rails to Trails Conservancy to participate in a nationwide celebration of trails during Celebrate Trails Day. Events like these showcase the incredible trail systems we have while highlighting the importance of making them welcoming and accessible for everyone, regardless of ability.

In Shoreline, we met with local policymakers and the North Sound Bicycle Advocates to discuss opportunities for bridging the Interurban Gap by building a bridge over State Route 104, connecting the Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace and Edmonds Communities. While in the area, we were also honored to donate $1,000 to support the Foothills Rails-to-Trails Coalition and give a book talk at at the Edmonds Library.

On June 7, we were honored to participate in the inaugural Roll the Park at Seward Park in Seattle. Lucas Stansbury and family hosted the 2.25-mile accessible ride that welcomed disabled and able-bodied folks for a fun and inclusive day in the park. Their fun at Sea to Sound 2025 inspired this awesome ride.

Now our attention turns to Sea to Sound 2026. In just a few short months, participants and volunteers from across the country will gather on the Olympic Peninsula to travel 74 miles of the Olympic Discovery Trail over three unforgettable days. Planning is well underway, and our team is working hard to coordinate volunteers, lodging, transportation, aid stations, meals, entertainment, and all the details that make this event possible.

Thank you to our volunteers, donors, sponsors, partners, and participants who continue to make this work possible. We look forward to seeing many of you on the trail this summer.

Ian Mackay

Executive Director

Ian's Ride

This spring, we returned to Orting for our biggest Ride the Foothills yet. Thanks to a grant supporting our expansion into Pierce County, we welcomed more riders than ever for another great day on the Foothills Trail.

We started the morning with donuts, coffee, and Ian's Ride swag before heading out on the trail. It was great to see so many familiar faces alongside people joining us for the first time. Throughout the day, riders shared stories, encouraged one another, and enjoyed spending time outdoors together.

We're incredibly grateful to our volunteers and everyone who helped make the ride a success. Events like this wouldn't happen without your support. Thank you to everyone who joined us in Orting. We can't wait to see you on the trail again soon.

Celebrate Trails Day Brings Community Together in Sequim

Ian's Ride was proud to partner with the Peninsula Trails Coalition and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy to celebrate Celebrate Trails Day with an inclusive community ride in Sequim this spring.

Participants of all abilities gathered to enjoy the Olympic Discovery Trail, connect with fellow trail users, and celebrate the importance of outdoor recreation. We were especially grateful to have members of the Sequim Wheelers join us, bringing their enthusiasm and support to the event.

The ride highlighted the power of trails to bring people together and showcased how accessible recreation can strengthen communities. Approximately 50 participants, volunteers, and supporters joined us for the day, demonstrating the growing interest in creating outdoor experiences that welcome everyone.

Thank you to the Peninsula Trails Coalition, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Sequim Wheelers, and all who participated in making Celebrate Trails Day a success. We look forward to continuing our work together to expand access and encourage more people to get outside and enjoy our region's incredible trail network.

All of our events are only possible with the support of our community. We want to continue to expand our events in size and scope as well as introduce more opportunities for folks with disabilities. If you’re able to donate, even a small amount helps and will ensure more people with mobility impairments can #GetOutside!