Overcoming All Obstacles: Everyday Heroes of OCR with More Heart Than Scars

Introduction: Empowering Individuals with More Heart Than Scars

MudGear recently had the chance to sit down with Joey McGlamory, Race Director of More Heart Than Scars (MHTS), following his return from hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro. MHTS is a nonprofit organization that empowers individuals living with invisible and visible scars to overcome challenges through obstacle course racing (OCR). Their mission is simple yet profound: to give hope to those that need it. In our conversation with Joey, we learned how MHTS continues to redefine what’s possible for adaptive athletes and anyone searching for hope.

The Journey to OCR

Growing up with a passion for sports, Joey McGlamory had dreams of playing professional football, but after a devastating knee injury in his freshman year, those dreams were put to rest. Instead of giving up, Joey found a new thrill in endurance sports, starting with running and eventually exploring triathlons. It wasn’t until 2009, when a friend introduced him to a new concept called a “mud run,” that Joey truly found his place. “I fell in love with the sport,” he shared. His first OCR experience was a Marine Corps Mud Run in Augusta, Georgia, and from that point forward, there was no turning back. OCR had filled the void left by his injury, and Joey was hooked.

A Defining Moment: Finding More Heart Than Scars

More Heart Than Scars, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with visible and invisible scars, would soon become Joey’s new mission. His involvement with the organization began in 2013 after a pivotal moment during a mud run with a paraplegic friend, Michael Mills. Faced with an icy obstacle, Joey scooped Michael into his arms, a moment that would define the rest of his OCR career. “I knew this is what I wanted to do,” he recalled. What started as a team with one adaptive athlete has grown to include multiple teams across different states, all working together to tackle the physical and emotional challenges of OCR events. Today, Joey serves as the race director for MHTS, coordinating support teams and ensuring that every adaptive athlete, whether they use a wheelchair, are visually impaired, or are recovering from cancer treatments, has the assistance they need to cross the finish line.

A Beacon of Hope for All

At its core, MHTS is about more than just completing races—it's about giving hope to those who need it most. Joey explains, “We race with people that are recovering from suicide attempts, those dealing with PTSD, trauma, mental illness, and addiction. We really try to help people break the stigma that they are alone in their struggles.” The organization's mission is clear: to be a beacon of light for anyone facing challenges, visible or invisible, offering support without judgment. MHTS doesn’t just cater to the military; they welcome civilians, young and old, and anyone searching for a supportive community. Joey affectionately refers to MHTS as a “band of misfits,” a group of individuals united by their shared goal of overcoming obstacles together.

Training and Preparation: Building Strong Teams

One of the key aspects of MHTS’s approach is its emphasis on training and preparation. Joey is meticulous in assembling support teams for races, ensuring that each volunteer understands the responsibilities that come with aiding an adaptive athlete. “We don’t just assign people to jobs. There’s a training period, and everyone needs to put in the time to learn the skills,” Joey explains. Whether it's pushing a wheelchair through rough terrain or helping with a rope climb, each volunteer plays a crucial role in the team's success. For those interested in volunteering, Joey encourages them to attend a race and observe. Only after they’ve seen the intricacies of the event are they invited to take on more responsibilities, gradually working their way up to more involved roles.

Expanding the Vision: Global Aspirations and Emotional Support

MHTS’s growth has been remarkable, with satellite locations cropping up across the country and even aspirations of global expansion. “We want to have team leads in different regions,” Joey shares. “Our vision is to supply wheelchairs for off-road use to athletes all over the world.” But while physical growth is exciting, Joey and the team are just as focused on their mission of providing emotional support and a sense of purpose to those they serve. The retreat center that MHTS is developing at the base of Mt. Mitchell is an extension of this mission, offering a place for recovery, both from addiction and other life struggles.

Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro: A Life-Changing Experience

One of Joey’s most transformative experiences came in 2021, when he and MHTS took Erika Bogan, a wheelchair athlete, to Tanzania to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. The trip was not just about conquering a physical challenge; it was a deeply emotional journey, especially for Erika, who is passionate about raising awareness of the high suicide rates among wheelchair users. Seeing a woman with a similar disability scooting herself across a dirt road in Tanzania left a profound impact on Erika and the team. That moment sparked a fire in Erika, leading her to create her own nonprofit, “Dealers of Hope,” which partners with MHTS to take individuals with disabilities to climb Kilimanjaro and overcome both literal and metaphorical mountains. Joey says it best: “People will rarely realize what it’s like to hike Mt. Kilimanjaro with one of our adaptive athletes, especially someone who once tried to take their own life, but is now climbing to the top of the world and realizing their purpose.”

Conclusion: A Mission to Give Hope

For Joey and the entire MHTS team, the mission is simple yet powerful: to give hope, break the stigma around invisible and visible scars, and support one another through the obstacles of life. With every race, every volunteer, and every athlete they support, they are living out that mission, one step at a time.

To learn more about More Heart Than Scars or to support their mission through a donation, click here.

MudGear is proud to partner with MHTS in their mission by creating the MHTS by MudGear Tall Compression Socks. If you're interested in partnering with MudGear or exploring custom gear options, click here.