Our Team
Rick Hamilton | President
Rick Hamilton is the proud father of Kalel, a boy living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), and the driving force behind the mission to support families affected by rare diseases. As a father and primary caregiver, Rick understands the unique challenges of navigating life with a rare condition, and his experiences fuel his passion for advocacy, community support, and change.
Raised in the mountains of Yosemite in Central California, Rick grew up in a family grounded in hard work, with a heritage of loggers and cowboys. This upbringing instilled in him a strong sense of perseverance, grit, and the importance of getting things done—values that continue to guide his life and work today.
Rick lives in East Texas with his wife, Nancy, and their children, Kalel and Olivia. The Hamilton family enjoys a close-knit, supportive home, with Rick balancing his work at Flex for Kal with his role as a father. In addition to his nonprofit work, Rick is also a farmer, raising organic-fed pork and grass-fed, finished beef for his family. Though he no longer farms commercially, he remains connected to the land and the hard work of farming that shaped his upbringing.
Before becoming a father to Kalel, Rick served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2004 to 2009. As an F/A-18 Airframe Mechanic, Rick developed discipline, resilience, and teamwork—qualities that now shape his approach to advocacy. His military experience reinforced his belief in overcoming challenges and working together toward a common goal.
From 2011 to 2015, Rick served as the Lead Volunteer for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in San Diego County, where he gained firsthand experience in community service and fundraising. This role solidified his desire to make a difference and provided him with the tools to effectively advocate for important causes.
An avid marathon runner, Rick uses races as a platform to raise awareness for rare diseases. He is also passionate about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and teaches kids’ jiu-jitsu. For Rick, sports and physical activity are vital to building resilience and confidence, and he’s passionate about passing those lessons along to young people, especially those facing their own challenges.
Rick is deeply committed to raising awareness about the critical gap in care for individuals transitioning from pediatric to adult services, especially for those with rare diseases. Too often, this transition is inadequately supported, leaving many individuals and families to navigate this challenging period without the proper resources or guidance. Rick is determined to advocate for stronger, more comprehensive care systems to ensure that no one falls through the cracks as they age out of pediatric care.
With this goal in mind, Rick’s vision for Flex for Kal extends beyond raising awareness—it’s about making a tangible difference in the lives of families. He hopes to provide direct support, including assistance with equipment and transportation, to help families meet the daily challenges of living with a rare disease. Rick understands the complexities of these needs and is committed to ensuring families have access to the resources that improve their quality of life.
In addition to providing support, Rick is passionate about advancing research and funding initiatives for cutting-edge solutions like regenerative medicine and custom gene therapies. He believes these innovations hold the potential to transform the standards of care for rare disease communities and offers hope for a brighter, more inclusive future.
One area close to Rick’s heart is the promotion of adaptive sports, such as power soccer, for individuals with disabilities. He is committed to advocating for and supporting sports programs that empower individuals with rare diseases to engage in physical activity, build confidence, and develop new skills.
At the heart of Rick’s mission is his love for his son, Kalel, his dedication to his wife Nancy and daughter Olivia, and his commitment to his family. Together, they are driven to ensure that no family facing rare diseases has to do so alone. Rick believes in the power of community, compassion, and action to create lasting change for those who need it most.