Celebrating Our Volunteers

Highlighting a Few of Our Volunteers That Make it All Possible 

At Catalyst Sports, our mission to make adventure sports accessible and inclusive simply wouldn’t be possible without the passion, time, and heart of our volunteers. This Volunteer Appreciation Week, we’re honored to celebrate three individuals who embody what it means to show up, lift others up, and move our mission forward: Hume Davenport, Kiersten Williams, and Julie Calvert. 

Hume, Kiersten and Julie are just a small representation of the 600+ volunteers who dedicated over 4,000 hours (a grossly conservative estimate) to make 2,000 adaptive events possible last year alone.

Their stories reflect the deep impact of adaptive sports - not only on participants, but on every person involved. We’re grateful for the light they bring to our community, and we’re proud to spotlight their voices below. 

Hume Davenport – Asheville Chapter | Mountain Biking 

Hume has been a Catalyst Sports volunteer for three years, primarily supporting our Asheville mountain biking program. Originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee, Hume brings a lifetime of adventure to the trails - from flight instructing in Colorado and charter piloting in Utah’s backcountry to bikepacking in Florida.  

Inspired by his niece Emma, an adaptive skier, Hume sought out a local adaptive sports organization to get involved with - and found Catalyst. What started as a search for a way to give back has become one of the most joyful parts of his life. 

"Volunteering with Catalyst is one of the greatest pleasures of my life.  I love the huge smiles, fist bumps, challenging moments, and ultimate triumphs. Catalyst gives me an undeniable positive charge that pulses through all aspects of my life. It’s incredibly fun to spend the day mountain biking in the woods with friends. I’ve been left in the dust a couple of times because I can’t keep pace with my racer. " 

From monthly rides to the annual mountain bike race at Kanuga, Hume is there - riding, encouraging, and celebrating every victory.  

" Catalyst brings people joy and there’s nothing better than that " 

Julie Calvert – Huntsville Chapter | Adaptive Climbing 

Julie has been with Catalyst Sports for over three years and currently leads the way in Huntsville’s adaptive climbing chapter. A lifelong lover of birds and board games (preferably bird-themed), Julie brings curiosity, joy, and commitment to everything she does - especially climbing.  

Having volunteered with the DC chapter for several years, she took initiative when moving to Huntsville, helping to establish a new local program so people with disabilities could climb together. 

"Catalyst connected me to a community of awesome people. They got me back to climbing after my health deteriorated and helped me grow the community here." 

Julie’s perspective reminds us why Catalyst exists: 

"Being disabled is hard. The world is largely inaccessible and you hear a lot of “no”, “can't”, “won't” and “don't’s”. Catalyst says “yeah, lets do it”. I hear from a lot of participants they never thought they could climb and that this experience has changed their lives." 

Kiersten Williams – Raleigh/Durham Chapter | Adaptive Climbing 

Kiersten’s journey with Catalyst Sports was sparked by a simple question: Could Catalyst’s adaptive climbing tour stop in Raleigh? Instead, we asked if she'd consider starting a chapter :). Over two years later, a thriving community of climbers, volunteers, and friends is still going strong.  

As the parent of three competitive climbers and a digital escape room creator for educators, Kiersten brings energy, creativity, and a deep sense of inclusion to every climbing event. 

"Making climbing accessible is so important. Disability awareness is also important, and I love that Catalyst allows athletes with disabilities to climb alongside their able-bodied peers.” 

Her favorite memories are often the in-between moments - laughter, connection, and community happening off the wall. 

"You will have a great time and meet some incredible people!"  she says to future volunteers. We couldn’t agree more.  

We couldn’t create these life-changing moments without you.

Thank you.

Become a Volunteer