Alanna Flax-Clark
Alanna acquired her disability in her 20s when she became seriously ill with the flu virus. This resulted in a rare neurological condition that causes paralysis and progressive muscle weakness, contractures, spasticity, chronic pain, and a weakened immune system. This completely changed her life. Learning to navigate the world again wasn’t easy, but adaptive sports became her lifeline. Sport gave her back a sense of independence and purpose, and increased her ability to function and maintain her strength.
One of the most difficult aspects for Alanna has been figuring out how to adapt equipment so she can participate without being able to use her hands to grip it. It’s a challenge that never completely disappears, but she has learned to be creative and keep finding ways to make it work.
Alanna shares: “Angel City Sports has been incredible throughout this whole process. They have supported me every step of the way and created a space where everyone, regardless of ability, is encouraged to come out and play. Their belief that sport truly is for everyone has meant so much to me.”
Alanna first heard about Angel City Sports when it was just starting out, but at the time she lived on the East Coast. There weren’t many adaptive sports programs available where she lived, so she always followed what Angel City Sports was doing from afar. When she moved back to Los Angeles, she was very excited to finally get involved. About a month after returning, a friend invited Alanna to an adaptive golf event where she had the opportunity to meet many of the people involved with Angel City Sports. After that, she couldn’t wait to do more.
“Sport is incredibly important for people with disabilities because it offers so much more than just physical activity. Sport gives us a sense of freedom, confidence, and community—things that can be hard to find after a life-changing injury or diagnosis. For me, sport has been a way to reconnect with my body, to feel strong and capable again, even though I move differently now. It has helped me set goals, overcome challenges, and rediscover joy. I’m more active and have participated in more sports since acquiring my disability, doing things I never imagined possible!”
Alanna also shares that through sport, she learns resilience, discipline, teamwork, and problem-solving—qualities that directly translate to finding and succeeding in a job. Competing and training also strengthen self-expression and communication skills, essential when navigating professional environments that aren’t always designed with accessibility in mind.
For her, adapted sports have been a fundamental part of rebuilding not only her strength but also her confidence in what she can contribute. They remind her that she can adapt, lead, and persevere, no matter the challenge. That mindset has helped her tremendously in pursuing opportunities and believing in her ability to thrive in any environment.
After attending her first Angel City Sports event, she felt inspired, excited, and energized. This was the first new sport (golf) she had tried since retiring and selling her horse, after years of competing internationally as a para-equestrian. Initially, she hadn’t planned on getting involved in another sport, but trying golf through ACS completely changed that. Discovering how much she enjoyed it reignited her curiosity and competitive spirit.
Her goal in the coming months is to continue improving her performance in her new sport, para-fencing, with the aim of competing at the highest level in the next North American Cup in February 2026.
Angel City Sports plays a vital role in helping her achieve this goal, especially given the many barriers to participation.
Transportation can be one such barrier for people with disabilities participating in para-sports. Many cannot simply get in a car and drive to practices or events, and public transportation is not always accessible, reliable, or readily available near para-sports facilities. Adaptive transportation services often require booking well in advance, can be unpredictable in their schedules, and make training planning difficult.
For athletes who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices, transportation can also be expensive, especially if specialized vehicles or accessible transportation services are required. Sometimes, the effort involved in simply getting to the venue can be overwhelming, even before training begins. And when traveling to competitions or events, flying adds another layer of stress. There’s always the fear that an airline might damage or lose a mobility device, which is not only costly but can also leave a person unable to move independently.
For Alanna, having reliable transportation is key to being able to participate or train consistently and stay involved in the community. Without it, even the most motivated athlete can find it difficult to participate regularly in adaptive sports or reach their full potential.
This Giving Tuesday, Angel City Sports is excited to launch the “LIFT OFF” Athlete Travel Fund. This fund will support athletes like Alanna in their participation in adaptive sports by helping them attend major ACS events and compete at the local, regional, and national levels when transportation costs are a barrier.
“Having transportation support through a travel fund would make an incredible difference for me and so many other adaptive athletes. Competing and attending events like those hosted by Angel City Sports are opportunities to grow, connect, and push our limits, but transportation costs and logistics are often the biggest barriers,” Alanna shares.
For Alanna, reliable transportation means freedom and the ability to perform, train consistently, and proudly represent the adaptive community. It would eliminate much of the stress involved in coordinating accessible travel, especially when specialized vehicles or assistance are required. For athletes who travel by air, it would also reduce the financial and emotional burden of protecting and repairing mobility equipment, which is often at risk of damage during transit.
This year, at her first National Championship, she won a silver medal in sabre, a great achievement and a testament to all her hard work. She also placed among the top 6 at a recent North American Cup in all three weapons: épée, foil, and sabre.
We are so proud of Alanna and everything she is accomplishing. She has fallen in love with para-fencing, and we are excited to see how far her talent and leadership will take her within the para-sports movement.
Support this Giving Tuesday — Give the gift of sport to support athletes like Alanna.
