Our STRIDE community is Awesome. Not because of our philanthropy, our local government, our infrastructures, or education. We are awesome because of our determination, resilience, courage, and willingness to give to others. We are a family. We create amazing results in each other and amazing actions. We will continue to move forward in the face of adversity as we always have.. #AdaptinSTRIDE.

The safety of our athletes, volunteers and families is STRIDE’s #1 priority, serving a fragile, vulnerable population, and therefore after much deliberation regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) , we made an early decision to be socially responsible to curtail the spread by cancelling the 2020 Great Race, Sled Hockey Tournaments and suspend ALL PROGRAMS, in order to maintain a safe environment. This decision has now proven to be prudent as each day unfolds to be more and more serious in ways we never thought possible. Without physical activites for our athletes at home, and for over-stressed families with kids who are vulnerable in ways you may never have considered... we want to help.

STRIDE is dedicated to maintaining our mission through this difficult time. We are now launching ‘Adapt in STRIDE’. Everyday new information comes out on how we need to change up our daily lives to maintain our health and safety and we want to be a resource for finding activities and education to ward off stress which affects your immune system.

We will be launch ing  virtual sports and recreation programs either video, web chat programs, or sending helpful video links for what we can all do inside our homes, yards, or in safe outdoor spaces to continue being active. Keeping your body active is a primary concern for keeping your immune system strong, and warding off cabin-fever that may lead to depressive thinking.

We are focused on creating healthy communications and options for mind, body and spirit through weekly communications to our STRIDE constituents. While we do not condone group gatherings, w e ask for your help by sending suggestions and ideas for families to stay active together at home to get through this crisis. We are a social organization, and we need to find more ways to safely socialize now, through communications. Please share all your activities with Megan mevans@stride.org or on our social media pages for other families by hash tagging videos and pictures #AdaptinSTRIDE . We will share with the community to help us all get through this together.

Mary Ellen Whitney, CEO