How I got into paramotors and became and instructor and started a nonprofit called Run into the Sky

Sean Symons had served his country as a proud member of the US Marine Corps. After completing his service in the 80s and 90s, he pursued a career in computer engineering and was instrumental in bringing teleradiology into the digital age.
Sean was passionate about his work and loved being able to help hospitals and clinics transition from analog x-rays to digital teleradiology. However, in 2017, he faced a major challenge when he underwent open heart surgery and suffered a stroke as a complication.
The stroke left Sean with a speech impediment and partial paralysis on one side of his body. Despite the difficult road ahead, Sean remained determined to overcome his disabilities and find a new way to pursue his passion for adventure and exploration.
It was then that he discovered paramotoring, a form of aviation that uses a motorized paraglider. Despite his physical limitations, Sean was undeterred and threw himself into learning everything he could about this exciting new hobby.
He worked tirelessly to overcome his speech impediment through therapy and rehabilitation, and slowly but surely regained control of his body. With the help of an instructor, Sean learned the art of ground handling in 2018, and by 2019, he was flying paragliders with the same skill and confidence that he had once brought to his work in computer engineering.
Through his love of paragliding, Sean found a new sense of purpose and fulfillment in life. Sean quickly fell in love with the thrill and freedom of soaring through the air, and it wasn't long before he started flying paramotors as well.
As Sean's passion for flying grew, he realized that there was a community of like-minded individuals who shared his love of aviation. He wanted to connect with them and share his experiences, so he started a podcast in January 2020. Through his podcast, Sean was able to interview other pilots and share their stories with a wider audience.
But Sean's ambitions didn't stop there. He wanted to give back to the community that had given him so much, so he started paramotor training a year after launching his podcast. His training program, called Paramotor Arkansas, was designed to help others learn to fly and experience the same sense of freedom that he had found in the skies.
Despite the challenges of starting a new business, Sean persisted and found success in helping others discover their passion for flying. And then, in February 2023, Sean decided to take his philanthropy to the next level by starting a nonprofit organization called Run into the Sky.
Through Run into the Sky, Sean and his team are able to help disabled veterans and other people with severe disabilities learn to fly. They even created custom adaptive gear to make the experience more accessible for those with physical limitations.
As Sean looked back on his journey from United States Marine Corps, disabled veteran, computer engineer, stroke complication, powered paraglider enthusiast to nonprofit founder, he was overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunities that flying had brought into his life. He knew that he had found his true calling, and he is determined to help as many people as possible experience the joy and freedom being able to Run into the Sky.

Are you thinking about learning to fly? Check out http://www.paramotorarkansas.com or text me at 501-747-3558 if you are a disabled person or disabled veteran, please check out http://www.RunIntoTheSky.org

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