The ArmstrongStriders are putting their ‘best feet forward’ again for KMs for CCD, 8 Days of Wellness.

The team, comprised of Community Care Durham’s own Shirley Armstrong and her husband Kevin, are excited to be taking part in the second KMs for CCD event after having such a great time last year.

“My husband often says to me, ‘We’re in this together’, which applies to many things of course, but in this case, we’re participating in KMs for CCD together, raising money for a great organization that we believe in, getting in exercise, and spending time together at the same time – a win, win, win!” Shirley said.

The ArmstrongStriders registered early for the event (communitycaredurham.on.ca/kmsforccd) and Shirley and Kevin have been having fun putting together promotional videos on Facebook to spread the word and gather sponsorships. KMs for CCD encourages participants to walk, cycle, or roll, between Sept. 24 to Oct. 1, but Shirley and Kevin take it a step further in their videos – they ‘walk and roll’ and even dance! Check out their Team Page for a closer look: https://communitycaredurham.akaraisin.com/ui/KMS2022/t/6d97959fd11f41fd92d144283484d3cf/

“We keep putting it out there,” Shirley said. “We’ll see what happens.”

Every donation to CCD helps to provide support services for individuals who have needs related to aging, physical, and or mental health, and those caring for them.

Fundraising for CCD is not unusual for the Armstrongs. Shirley has worked for CCD for the past 10 years and Kevin has volunteered here for more than six years. They’ve participated in quite a few events over that time dating back to the Walk for Mental Health Awareness, which preceded KMs for CCD. Last year Shirley said they made a commitment to their online followers that they would walk all eight days and they did.

“We had never exercised eight days in a row,” she said. “We’re usually happy to get out two or three times a week. But we said we’d do it, and we did! If you make a commitment you have to follow through and it was a good challenge for us to do that.”

This year’s KMs for CCD event has an extra exciting component to it – on October 1st there will be an in-person celebration with a lunch and fall activities at Purple Woods Conservation Area. Shirley said she’s looking forward to being together with friends and colleagues to celebrate. Participants can also exercise in the picturesque surroundings of Purple Woods. The ArmstrongStriders plan to complete a 6 km hike that day. There are also 1.5 and 3 km trails that people can enjoy and fully accessible routes available. Cyclists are invited to take part in a 65 or 130 km ride, returning to Purple Woods.

“When you get together in a non-work environment there’s natural comradery that develops. You see people and you’re relaxed, it’s fun. I hope people recognize that and come out and support the event that day,” Shirley said.

To register, to make a donation to the event, or for more information, visit communitycaredurham.on.ca/kmsforccd.