08/04/2025
Miles of Smiles 2025: A Celebration of Strength, Spirit, and Community
What a success!
Miles of Smiles 2025 was an incredible celebration of active aging and community fitness. Our goal was to bring people of all ages together for a fun, inclusive, and empowering experience—and that’s exactly what we did.
Participants were challenged with overhead pressing, throwing, tossing, sit-to-stands, and deadlifts along the walking course, which ended with a hill climb. The smiles at the finish line said it all. We capped it off with a free lunch to refuel, reconnect, and celebrate everyone’s accomplishments.
Huge thanks go out to all who helped prepare, organize, and execute the event. We truly couldn’t have done it without you. A special shout-out to Pelican Landing, Diane Ladwig, and Wheel Chairs Unlimited for sponsoring our athlete goodie bags—your generosity made a big impact.
As I reflect on the day, two moments stand out:
1. From the athletes:
Many older adult participants shared they had been training for months, working toward the goal of completing the full loop. Hearing them say, “I didn’t realize I was capable of this!” was deeply moving. Their pride and determination were truly inspiring.
2. From the volunteers:
Watching volunteers' eyes light up as they witnessed the grit and capability of the athletes was unforgettable. You could see their perceptions of aging shift right before your eyes—replaced with admiration, hope, and new possibilities.
That’s the ripple effect that gets me every time.
Thank you again to everyone who came out, cheered from afar, or supported the event in any way. We can’t wait to do it again next year!
Event Highlights:
· 46 miles walked (cumulatively!)
· 738 pounds lifted overhead
· 1,755 pounds deadlifted
· 719 sit-to-stands completed
Here’s to strength at every age, and many more miles of smiles ahead!
