Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C. -- People see them all the time – in town, at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and aboard Marine Corps Air Station New River. They run the trails throughout the year, a mass of them pushing strollers as they go. They are the Stroller Warriors.
“There are 12 chapters total,” said Stephanie Geraghty, founder and co-coordinator of the organization. “The Lejeune chapter was the first. We had our first workout session Jan. 27, 2010.”
Since then, the organization has grown into the thousands, with chapters Marine Corps-wide. It is a very inclusive group, allowing any service members, spouses and family members to join.
“My goal was just to provide a way for families to support each other, work out together and reach out to the community,” said Geraghty.
The Camp Lejeune chapter includes all military installations in the area, such as New River and Camp Johnson.
“You can come even if you don’t have kids,” said Darcie Clark, cast driver for the show Homeland, who was an active-duty Marine in the 1990s. “It’s open to all military spouses, including men.”
Clark is one of the members with no child to push, so she does something the Stroller Warriors call stroller jacking, she said. That’s when one runner offers to take over pushing another runner’s stroller.
The organization has recently gained nation-wide attention.
Geraghty won the Athletic Inspiration Award given by USAA, and was featured on a CBS special, “Courage in Sports,” which aired Nov. 17.
The organization does not just meet to work out. Members also run organized races, such as the Marine Corps Marathon and the Camp Lejeune Half Marathon. They also get involved in the community.
“We also have playgroups,” said Geraghty, “We do fundraising and reach out to the community.”
To find out more about the Stroller Warriors, go to www.strollerwarriors.com, or to their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/StrollerWarriors.