What happens when the limb loss community, prosthetics professionals, nonprofits, and supporters come together for a weekend built around giving back?
In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike Bolland talks with Rob Pittman of Hanger, Chairman of the Hanger Foundation’s Night to Inspire, about the upcoming 2026 Night to Inspire in Nashville, Tennessee.
Now in its third year, Night to Inspire is expanding into a full weekend experience designed to raise funds, build awareness, and support organizations helping people with limb loss, limb difference, and mobility challenges.
Rob shares what attendees can expect, including a Friday evening kickoff at Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel, bourbon experiences, a golf outing, and a Saturday night dinner, reception, and concert at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Mike and Rob also discuss:
- How Night to Inspire got started
- The mission of the Hanger Foundation
- Organizations supported through the foundation, including Camp No Limits
- Rob’s lifelong career in orthotics and prosthetics
- The evolution of prosthetic technology
- Why peer support can be so important after limb loss
- Helping new amputees understand what is possible
- Raising awareness and financial support for the limb loss community
- How people can support Night to Inspire even if they can’t attend in person
Rob also reflects on growing up in the orthotics and prosthetics profession and why, after decades in the field, helping people regain mobility and quality of life continues to drive his work.
Night to Inspire 2026 takes place September 19, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Listen to this episode of We’re Not Stumped to learn more about Night to Inspire, the Hanger Foundation, and the people working to make a difference throughout the limb loss and limb difference community.
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Everyone has a story worth sharing—and at the 2027 Amputee Coalition National Conference, those stories will take center stage. It’s an honor for We're Not Stumped host Mike Bolland to serve as host and help create a welcoming space for the community’s voices. “Story Slam: Where Every Story Finds Its Light” brings the community together for an evening of laughter, connection, and five-minute stories. Twenty storytellers will be selected at random to share a moment from their lives. There’s no competition, no judging, and no expectation that a story must be inspirational or about limb loss or limb difference. In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike Bolland introduces the event and shares what attendees can look forward to.
Dr. Carmen Elliott, the new President and CEO of the Amputee Coalition, joins Mike Bolland for a conversation about community, advocacy, and helping people with limb loss and limb difference find the support they need. Carmen shares how her family’s experiences with healthcare access and limb loss shaped her commitment to this work. Together, they explore the value of peer support, access to prosthetics, and including families and caregivers in the conversation. They also discuss support groups, certified peer visitors, AC Connect, and the upcoming “Fireside Connections” conference.
How do you move forward when vision loss changes your career, independence, and plans for the future? In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike Bolland speaks with Jennifer Frederick about living with permanent vision loss and learning to advocate for herself along the way. Jennifer explains how changes in her vision eventually forced her to leave a career in crisis management. She also discusses the challenges she now faces while looking for work, including interview practices that have left her questioning whether she is being treated fairly as a person with a disability. The conversation explores Jenn’s decision not to undergo surgery for her detached retinas, the importance of seeking medical attention when your vision changes, and the need to take ownership of your healthcare.
