READING, Pa. – Thursday night, members of the IM ABLE community kept moving, just as founder Chris Kaag taught them.
“As an organization, we can honor Chris by having this honorable workout for him with his favorite program, his favorite class,” said Alex Pilkington, CEO of the IM ABLE Foundation.
Kaag served in the Marine Corps. A rare disease called AMN eventually limited his movement.
The organization remains committed to carrying forward the mission that Kaag dedicated his life to building.
For Kalah Schlott, Kaag was more than the founder of IM ABLE. He was someone who believed in her.
“When I went to USA Games, he goes, ‘I’m so proud of you.’ He would motivate us more,” Schlott said.
Schlott swims with Berks County Special Olympics and says IM ABLE has been a key to her success.
“I was recently at the USA Games in Minnesota, and I am nominated for World Games in Chile, Santiago de Chile,” she said.
Chris Fiorentino first experienced the IM ABLE community nearly four years ago. It did not take long for him to become part of it.
The founder of IM ABLE in Berks County has died at age 50.
“Two weeks later, I signed up to volunteer, and I’ve loved it ever since,” said Fiorentino, vice president of the IM ABLE board.
Kaag founded IM ABLE in 2007. The organization now serves about 4,500 people each year.
“What we’re living right now today is what we’re going to carry forward. It’s what Chris charged us to do,” Pilkington said.
The people working out together Thursday night showed what Kaag built: a community moving forward and a legacy that continues changing lives.