"Sometimes the right step is the one that scares you the most."
Hats to a Movement
A Campfire Story by AFA Founder, Chase Pettey
In This Story:
- The Spark: How a hat company opened the door to something bigger
- Shocking Truths That Changed Everything
- From Selling Hats to Building a Movement
- The First Step Into the Unknown
- A Lesson in Listening to Your Gut
The Spark
In 2020, I wasn’t trying to start a movement. I just wanted to do something creative that would make a difference. I launched a hat company called GTFO, an acronym that was adventurous, a little bold, and always encouraging people to get out and explore. Inside each hat, I stitched hidden quotes meant to inspire the wearer. Fifty percent of profits would be donated to support families of individuals with exceptionalities.
It felt like a good mix of purpose and entrepreneurship. I thought, If we can sell some hats, raise a little money, and help a few families, that’s a win.
But something unexpected happened.
Shocking Truths That Changed Everything
As those hats made their way into 17 states, the feedback started to change. People weren’t just talking about how much they loved the hats. Parents were writing to me about hope. They were telling me they felt like someone finally “got it.” And people who bought a hat wanted to do more than donate, they wanted to live out the mission with us and help these kids live a life of adventure..
That’s when I started asking bigger questions.
I learned that 83% of individuals with exceptionalities are unemployed. That 86% live dependently. That only 14% can ride a two-wheel bike. And with every statistic I uncovered, I couldn’t stop thinking: Why?
Why don’t we see these individuals in our communities, in workplaces, on trails, in after-school programs, in the spaces we value most? And maybe the harder question: What’s actually being done to change this?
The more I dug in, the clearer it became.
Financial donations and grants are important, but they’re not enough. These individuals don’t just need resources. They need a belief system that works for them instead of against them. An organization that’s willing to bold, like what liquid death is to water. They need experiences that empower them to grow. They need to be challenged, not sheltered, so they can build self-confidence, independence, and develop skills that every human deserves the choice to learn.
From Selling Hats to Building a Movement
The truth hit me like a wave: this wasn’t just about making hats anymore. It was about rewriting the way the world saw potential. Not just for them, but for us all.
I kept coming back to something I’ve always believed to my core, challenges are the great equalizer. Every human grows when they push through difficulty and reach the other side. So why were we shielding exceptional individuals from that same opportunity?
I decided I couldn’t just talk about it. I had to create an opportunity for these exceptional individuals to show it.
The First Step Into the Unknown
I called on close friends, mentors, and people from every corner of my life. I didn’t ask them to buy a hat or donate to a cause. I asked them to help me run one program, just one, that could prove what these individuals were capable of when given the chance.
I wasn’t asking them to believe in me. I was asking them to believe in them.
The funny part is, that’s when Adventure For All truly began, though I didn’t even realize it at the time. I still had doubts. I still wondered if I was the right person to lead something like this. I didn’t go to school for this and no one in my family has an exceptionality, so my experience was minimal. But maybe that was the point. Maybe the way we educate around these individuals and their diagnosis, creates limited belief systems.
I do believe that the overprotection absolutely did and does come from a place of love. And that’s beautiful. But I believe to love someone is to give them the choice and the support to step into the unknown and learn through experiences.
Sometimes the right step is the one that scares you the most.
A Lesson in Listening to Your Gut
Looking back, GTFO was never just a hat company. It was the door I needed to walk through to find my calling.
I’ve learned that you don’t have to feel ready to start. You just have to take the first step toward what’s pulling at you. Trust that it’s there for a reason.
Life isn’t happening to us. It’s happening for us. Every step, even the small ones, can lead you somewhere bigger than you imagined.
How This Story Speaks to AFA and Our Exceptional Athletes:
- Shows that meaningful change often starts with small, imperfect steps.
- Proves that listening to intuition and taking action can lead to purpose-driven impact.
- Highlights that exceptional individuals need more than inclusion—they need challenge and opportunity.
- Reinforces the belief that challenge is the great equalizer for all humans.
- Demonstrates that a movement starts when people unite to believe in and invest in others’ potential.
Donate to AFA and help us continue to trek a path towards endless opportunities and growth for all humans with exceptionalities.
A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE STORY
Visit https://www.thebegoodfoundation.org/
PLEASE SHARE THIS BLOG WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY, OR ON SOCIAL TO HELP INSPIRE SOMEONES ENDLESS POTENTIAL.
Watch 'For The Unity Of Us All', a powerful short film from at the time GTFO, but in all reality was the first glimpse into something more than hats... a movement that captures the heart of AFA's mission today. To redefine the human potential for all humans with exceptionalities.
FOR THE UNITY OF US ALL
Before Adventure For All became a movement, it was a question. Could we challenge the way the world sees individuals with exceptionalities by showing what’s possible when belief meets opportunity? For The Unity Of Us All is more than a short film, it’s a call to action. It’s a glimpse into the spirit, courage, and connection that sparked our journey. Watch, and you’ll see why this work is about far more than programs or events. It’s about rewriting what we believe is possible… together.
"For The Unity Of Us All" film showcasing Adventure For All athletes with exceptionalities conquering outdoor challenges, building community, and inspiring inclusion.
Watch more of AFA's Films HERE
