Kicking Off 2012 with Disney Spirit!

Team Hope For The Warriors® kicked off 2012 having a blast in the wonderful world of Disney January 5-8.  From enjoying a Team dinner with members of our Tampa team to waking up at 2:30 am to go run miles and miles to our digs at the Caribbean Beach Resort – it was a fantastic whirlwind of a weekend in the Sunshine State!  Both community and wounded Team members sported the famous starred Hope For The Warriors® jersey in Disney. 

Team dinner at Beef O'Brady's

John Masters, who has been active with Hope For The Warriors® since the beginning of his rehabilitation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, finished his FIRST half marathon on January 7 – a date to mark in history!  Only uphill for John from here, soon we’ll be recruiting him for a full marathon!  We’re thinking the Marine Corps Marathon…what do you think?!

No kidding - John did the half!

 Another phenomenal champion: Manny Jimenez completed the FULL GOOFY CHALLENGE.  Now this is really actually goofy – it entails running the half marathon on Saturday followed by the full marathon on Sunday.  Manny, Manny, Manny…how will you impress the world next?! 

Goofy Finisher!

Goofy bling!

 A huge shout out to those who also enjoyed warmth and running:

Lindsey Gruenwald

Robert Hooper

William Hooper

Zac Myers

Kimberly Skelton

Christian Schultz

Leigh Ann Schultz

and our very own Jenlene Nowak  :)

Our northern Team was able to join the Tampa Team for their weekly Thursday run at Beef O’Brady’s.  Thank you Beef, Team leader Devin Young and all of the Team for the fantastic support!  Please find more info on the Tampa Team!  They’re quite a fun bunch :-)

Devin and Mirka Young and their children Kelly, Brooke and Devin deserve a great special thanks from everybody – they were our biggest supporters and fans throughout the entire weekend!

Mirka and her 2:30 am coffee - couldn't do it without!

What a start to 2012 – an absolutely fantastic weekend filled with bonding, amazing accomplishments, the community connecting and support we strive for, and fully getting into the Disney spirit!  Not to mention gorgeous weather…Disney’s success can only mean great things are to come for all of 2012!  Join the fun :-)