Grand Blanc, MI — August 26, 2026
There are over 50 million adults in the United States with a disability or health condition that limits their mobility in some way.
We came across this story recently, and with the Ally Challenge in town this week hosting their annual adaptive golf clinic, we thought it might be an important news item to present. We will report on the details of the clinic at the conclusion of this article. But we wanted to share the story of a wife who used her entrepreneurial skills to assist her husband after he received a life-altering medical diagnosis.
Career Experience Leads to Remarkable Innovation
When your career is coaching college football, and you spend two hours outside of practice exercising every day, one of the last concerns on your mind is being diagnosed with a serious medical condition. The unthinkable happened to Don Horton, however, when he was informed he had Parkinson’s disease. Don’s diagnosis not only led to changes with his body, career and life, it inspired his wife Maura, a former kids clothing designer, to return to the workforce becoming an entrepreneur and the inventor of MagnaReady®. MagnaReady® is the first fashionable dress shirt infused with a magnetic closure system designed specifically for people with limited mobility and dexterity.
The idea for MagnaReady® came after Don returned home from an away game with the North Carolina State University football team. He shared a story with his wife that night about how after the game he was in the locker room getting ready for the flight home and discovered that he was unable to button his dress shirt because of the side effects of Parkinson’s disease. One of his players at the time, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, came to Don’s aid helping him to button his shirt. But, the humbling experience was one Maura never wanted her husband to have to go through again.
“The moment I heard my husband’s story I knew I had to take action and give him back the ability to perform the simple task of dressing independently, a task most of us take for granted every day,” said Maura Horton, CEO of MagnaReady®. “I used my background in fashion to come up with the basic design for a magnetically infused shirt, and after some trial-and-error I had a finished product that seamlessly combined quality with functionality.”
But, Maura was not satisfied with only helping her husband. She knew there were millions of other people with Parkinson’s and other mobility limiting conditions who could benefit from her invention. Leaving behind her demanding job as a stay-at-home mom, Maura added the role of entrepreneur to her already busy schedule and launched the MagnaReady® business.
Aging can make it difficult to perform tasks that were once easy and mindless. Surgery and medical conditions can prevent certain movements. Many people struggle to find clothing that is easy to put on, looks fashionable, trendy and fits. MagnaReady®, the world’s first magnetic apparel brand, is driving the fashion industry toward a more inclusive future. From the original MagnaReady® dress shirt that was available only in white or blue, has grown an apparel line that is revolutionizing the fashion industry.
The MagnaReady® Collection
The MagnaReady® men’s collection includes a variety of adaptive clothing options for work, casual daily living, the gym and sleep. Various adaptive and inclusive features include specialty rises in pants for wheelchair users, pull tabs to make putting shorts and pants on easier, strategic pocket placement, flat seams, magnetic zippers, patented magnetic button closures, and more. Clothing options include short and long sleeve dress shirts, denim button downs, flannels, chino twill pants and shorts, rain jackets, polos, fleece sweaters, casual camp shirts, jeans, and sleepwear.
The YARROW by MagnaReady® Collection
The YARROW by MagnaReady® women’s collection ranges from sleeveless, short sleeve and long sleeve blouses to casual dresses, tunic tees and skinny jeans. A specially designed tunic shirt makes it easier for caregivers to assist with dressing while preserving dignity. There are also straight leg pants in both seated and standing fits, cardigans and knit jackets. Rounding out the collection are sleep pants and matching sleep shirts.
For more information visit: www.magnaready.com.
McLaren Adaptive Golf Clinic Monday, August 24 at The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren
Together with McLaren Health Care and the McLaren Flint Foundation, the tournament once again teamed up with the U.S. Adaptive Golf Alliance (USAGA) to put on a clinic featuring trained adaptive golf coaches providing instruction to a group of more than 40 adaptive golfers using a wide array of adaptive golf equipment. Attendees ranged in age from 5 years old to 75 and were recruited from McLaren Health Care’s patient base as well as through USAGA, organizations such as Rehab Without Walls, and word-of-mouth. The Clinic featured an atmosphere of camaraderie and support in underscoring this growing initiative in adaptive sports.
Adaptive golf is a rising movement in the sport that continues to grow the game and provide people with physical disabilities the tools and training to enjoy the game.
“Bringing people together of diverse abilities, ages, motivation, and backgrounds for a common purpose is on full display at the McLaren Adaptive Golf Clinic,” said Laurie Prochazka, vice president of community partnerships for McLaren Health Care. “McLaren is very proud to be on the forefront of building awareness of adaptive golf as a growing movement in the sport. We appreciate the support of our valued partners, including Ottobock, Bott Prosthetics, The Alexander Foundation, Claudette Wilkinson Bryant Memorial, and the Ridgway and Shannon White Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, in allowing us to expand the Clinic to reach a record amount of people this year.”
The coaches for this year’s Adaptive Golf Clinic included:
- BRIAN BEMIS: Best swing on one leg, plays without a prosthetic, representative of US Para Golf Exhibition team, G1 leg impairment golfer
- BRYAN BIAGIOLI: President of Michigan Adaptive Golf, represented team USA Cairns Cup in Spain 2026, G2 Leg impairment golfer
- SCOTT CARPENTER: Local to Michigan, became a USAGA trained adaptive golf coach in 2024, G5 Arm impairment golfer
- KEVIN HOLLAND: Represented Team USA in 2022 & 2024 Cairns Cup, NAOAGA representative, born with cerebral palsy, 10-time Michigan Special Olympics champion, G8 coordination impairment golfer
- RYANNE JACKSON: 2023 US Adaptive Open Women’s Champion, 2024 USDGA Woman’s Champion, has played in multiple US Adaptive Opens, G8 Coordination impairment golfer
- RYAN LUKKARI: Works at Shenandoah Country Club in West Bloomfield, MI, played in multiple US Adaptive Opens, NAOAGA representative, five-time coach at the McLaren Adaptive Golf Clinic
- RYAN MATTHEWS: Adaptive teaching professional at Correct to Compete, North American One Arm Golf Association Board Director, played in US Adaptive Open, represented The Cairns Cup in Spain 2026
- JIMMY MOCERI: Winner of Multiple Seated division championships, plays out of a Para-Golfer Cart, No. 3 in USAGA Rankings, G9 seated impairment golfer
- TRACY RAMIN: Current Director of Michigan Adaptive Golf, Founder & Captain of Cairns Cup 2022, 2024, played in multiple US Adaptive Opens , G7 arm & leg impairment golfer
- JONATHAN SNYDER: Executive Director of USAGA, hit the inaugural tee shot at the first U.S. Adaptive Open in Pinehurst, Founder & Vice Captain of Cairns Cup 2022 and 2024, NAOAGA Champion 2021 & 2022, G5 arm impairment golfer
- JOSH WILLIAMS: No. 1 ranked Canadian adaptive player, Golf Professional, Played in multiple US Adaptive Opens, four-time Canadian All Abilities Champion, two-time Michigan Adaptive Champion, G2 leg impairment golfer
- DAVID WINDSOR PGA: PGA Professional, adaptive golf director for the Georgia State Golf Association, founder of Adaptive Golf Academy, over 30 years of experience in adaptive golf
The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren is this week through August 30th at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club in Grand Blanc, Michigan.
All three rounds of The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren will be broadcast on Golf Channel.
Tickets for The Ally Challenge can be purchased by visiting the tournament website (theallychallenge.com). The Ally Challenge is open to spectators from Thursday (August 27) to Sunday (August 30) and ticket prices start at $15. Youth 17 and under receive free grounds access with a ticketed adult. For a complete listing of ticket options please CLICK HERE.
Since its inception in 2018, The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren has donated nearly $9.7 million to support charity.
