Imagine hiking a 14er with an extra 50 pounds on your back…
Every step, every rock to climb over, every breath already takes effort. Now add the weight of a packed suitcase or a small child as you push toward a 14,000+ foot summit.
That’s exactly what James Anderson and 10 others will be doing using weighted vests or weighted packs. James, an adaptive fitness coach with Better Everyday Fitness, focuses on helping people of all abilities build strength, confidence and independence.
On July 10th, James will lead the team up Quandary Peak, one of Colorado’s many 14ers. Rising to 14,265 feet, this 7-mile hike has an elevation gain of around 3,400 feet and is steep, steady and relentless. This isn’t just any hike though—James and the team are raising funds to support FRIENDS of Broomfield, a local nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities for connection, growth and inclusion for individuals with I/DD and their families.
So why make an already difficult climb even harder?
To bring the challenge to life, the team will carry extra weight in their packs to represent the daily physical, emotional, social and financial burdens many individuals with I/DD and their families face. The more money they raise, the more weight each team member will carry, giving each step a physical reminder of the challenges so many families carry each day. To learn more or follow along, visit friendsofbroomfield.org.
“We’re choosing to carry physical weight to represent the invisible weight that people with disabilities carry every single day—they have challenges that most people don't have to think about in their everyday life,” James explained.
That “invisible weight” shows up in ways many people never see. Individuals with I/DD may have a harder time understanding instructions, learning new skills or gaining independence without consistent support. Social challenges are just as significant.
“Adults with I/DD are often treated like children,” James said. “They’re not spoken to in a way that reflects their actual age.”
Over time, those assumptions can shape outcomes. When people expect less, individuals aren’t always pushed or given opportunities to grow. Without those chances, progress can stall, becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.
But when expectations shift, so can outcomes.
James has seen that firsthand through his work teaching adaptive fitness classes for the last two years at FRIENDS of Broomfield, where he’s built a program helping participants build strength, balance and confidence. James shared a story of a young woman in a wheelchair he worked with to improve her leg strength, and she can now move independently in a pool. Progress happens because someone believed more was possible, and he wants to continue reaching as many individuals as possible through the fundraising effort.
That same philosophy applies to James himself. As his clients push their limits, he’s doing the same in preparation for the July hike. He trains with a weighted vest while hiking or walking on a steep treadmill incline to simulate the challenge.
“It’s noticeably harder with the extra weight, he said. “The second I take it off, it feels like wow—it's so easy to hike right now!” And that’s the difference—James can take the weight off when the hike is over. For many individuals with I/DD, those challenges don’t simply come off at the end of the day.
Justin Schierkolk is one of the team members joining James on the hike. When Justin learned about the mission and saw James’s genuine desire to inspire others to support FRIENDS, he was immediately on board.
“This hike means showing people that we cannot just empathize, but take action to bring meaningful help and connection,” Justin said. “It also means drawing attention to the outstanding work of Gina Coufal and the entire crew at FRIENDS as they serve people with I/DD and give them opportunities to live to their fullest potential with many of the freedoms we take for granted each day.”
During the July hike, James will carry with him the individuals he’s come to know through his work at FRIENDS. He plans to bring a banner bearing their names to the summit as a way to include them.
James expects to be humbled by the hike, both physically and emotionally, but also to be proud of himself for accomplishing it and what it represents.
“I want to use this experience to help further my message that people with disabilities are carrying this extra burden every day, and it’s even harder than we think it is.”
Because some weights aren’t meant to be carried alone.