Founding Stories: Stroller Warriors® MacDill

As you all know, Stroller Warriors is 100% a volunteer organization. All of us, from the Coordinators to Workout Leaders, Welcoming Committee to Headquarters Staff are all unpaid. I think that’s one of my favorite things about us. We are not motivated by money or sales. We do this for a variety of reasons, none of which involve money!
 
I am particularly intrigued by the stories from our chapter Founders. The Military spouses who noticed a need within their communities and worked hard to make a Stroller Warriors chapter a reality. So I’ve started to collect them and will share them all with you here on the blog.
 
Without further ado, here is the story of Stroller Warriors MacDill, told by Kim B!

"I want to share the story of Stroller Warriors® MacDill with you. I was intermittently active with Stroller Warriors Camp Lejeune while we were there. I had started up the EFMP support group within the club and loved meeting up with people similar situations as me. But due to all of Gibson's therapy I was unable to run with the club a lot. When we moved here I realize just how much I miss those intermittent runs and the support that I got from Stroller Warriors.

I started running with a local running club here at MacDill and while it was great it just wasn't the same. There is something about Stroller Warriors that can't be replicated. The support, encouragement, and the village feeling that you get from a Stroller Warriors chapter is incredible. 

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After we had been here for about a year Hank deployed and I found myself lost. I needed my village and it wasn't here yet. I decided at that time that I wanted to do a Stroller Warriors but I wasn't sure if I had the time and whether or not my family could commit to the needs of the chapter. I found myself on my knees talking with God and decided I would not say anything to Hank and if it was meant to be it would be. Well after Hank came home and things settled down after deployment, I went for a run and come home to my husband making breakfast. I explained to him how I was tired of running alone. And wouldn't you know it the first thing out of my husband's mouth was, “Well, why haven't you started a Stroller Warriors here?” I was floored! I had never said anything to him about it and I had promised God that if it was meant to be that I would do it. That's when the process began and what Stroller Warriors MacDill was founded on. 

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​This wasn't something that was just put together, this was God’s plan for me to start this and leave something amazing behind. You'll find as you move around there's something special about leaving a piece of you in that place. Well it's hard to go and much harder to leave this chapter than expected. I'm overwhelmed with the sensation that amazing warriors will come out of here. Some of you will have just started running, some of you will have met the goal you never thought you could, and some of you will realize that you don't have to do it alone and there is a village for you. Thank you for opening up your heart to me in the club and for all the wonderful sweaty hugs. Thank you for this amazing adventure.
Your founder,
Kim"

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Thank you so much Kim for sharing your story with us! We know you leave a lasting impression on the MacDill community!

If you’re a Chapter Founder and would like your story featured please email me at [email protected]! If you’re interested in founding a chapter and bringing Stroller Warriors to your location, please follow these instructions.
 
Thank you and Happy Running!
Kelly