We truly believe that a happy and motivated team elevates everything. At the Suitcase of Courage, our values are Integrity, Relationships, Enthusiasm, Adventure, Courage and Health (I-REACH), and we believe in the never-ending pursuit of growth and adventure.

One of the ways we do this is after five years of working at the Suitcase of Courage, our team members are given the choice of traveling anywhere in the world they’d like to go for a week! It’s a radical gift that we’re proud of and have been honored to share with team member, Maria Kugler.

After a lot of contemplation over where to go, she choose the beautiful country of Portugal where she could tie in a yoga retreat in the Sintra area with beach time in Sao Miguel! Check out how she spent her Suitcase of Courage Adventure trip!

Maria in Portugal!

Hi, I’m Maria! I’m a yoga trainer and goal coach for the Suitcase of Courage. For my 5 Year Adventure Trip, I chose Portugal! The first part of my trip included a yoga retreat and local excursions in the area of Sintra followed by a quick trip to the Azore islands. The best part of the trip was having my husband there to enjoy all the sights and flavors of Portugal as well and creating the “babymoon” of a lifetime! We toured ancient castles, ate a lot of chocolate croissants, made new friends, swam in the Atlantic, and even enjoyed a Yoga Sound Healing Bath. When I travel I discover not only incredible new places around the world but also new sides to myself that I wouldn’t have been able to by staying in my normal day to day setting.

I’m grateful to work for a company that generously aligns with my values of relationships, health, personal development and adventure!

Two years ago, Laurel Gallion, from FUJIFILM Diosynth NC, would find herself spending the majority of the weekend in bed recovering from the week. She had zero motivation, was exhausted continuously, had brain fog, elevated blood pressure, elevated blood sugars, elevated cholesterol and inflammatory markers and was on ten different medications. It was then she began to think about what she could to feel better and lose weight.

“This is on me” was the realization that led her to contact a fellow nurse who she knew had gone through a similar health and weight loss transformation a year prior and could relate to. After seeing photos of this woman’s transformation and heard her story, Laurel knew that if Ashley could do it, so could she.

Over the next 6-7 months Laurel got the weight off by following a specific nutrition program and lost 65 pounds! After that she started walking consistently then using the Peloton app for indoor cycling and strength workouts.

Over the course of her two year health transformation, she learned that she had to release the “all of nothing” thinking that would often derail her from her goals. She realized that it’s about consistency and being committed even when she has a setback or eats something “unhealthy.” These things are normal and should be expected as part of the process of making healthy changes. They aren’t reasons to give up and quit.

Today, Laurel is living life to the fullest, taking no medications, training for the Jingle Run 5K in December, and coaching others through their weight loss and nutrition journeys!

Through her coaching and ongoing learning, she’s understanding the value of strength-training and exercising for longevity and life span. Each year, she participates in a mental challenge for herself called 75 Hard which consists of 75 days of exercising twice a day, no alcohol, taking a progress photo, and reading 10 pages of a positive book. This dials her focus back in and proves to her that she can accomplish hard things.

Laurel, you’re a prime example of turning your life around and taking matters into your own hands one step at a time! We’re deeply proud of your commitment, accomplishments and desire to help others succeed!

If you’re inspired by Laurel’s story or would love to ask her a question regarding her wellness path, you can reach out to her at laurel.gallion.contractor@fujifilm.com

Remember, it’s never too late to do the things you want to do and live a healthy life!

Keep reaching for your goals!

Your Suitcase of Courage Team

With the temperatures dropping and beautiful outdoor scenery unfolding, it’s time to begin envisioning how you want to feel and move this fall. What one health goal will you accomplish?

Some of you might be getting out for sunrise runs or spending Saturday mornings leaf-peeping on your kayak. Perhaps this fall is the time to shake things up and try something new!

When it comes to taking a leap of faith and seeing what happens, we can’t think of anyone better to feature in this edition than Katie Sullivan from FUJIFILM Imaging Colorants, Inc in Delaware!

This past January, Katie Sullivan jumped into the PHUNT 25K trail race last minute via an invite from a friend. Before the race her longest distance was a half marathon 10 weeks before.  In the 6 weeks prior to the race, she ran about 5 times a week, with only 2 runs up to 8 miles. 

“I had no trail running experience or shoes.  It was a total experiment. It ended up being a great experience. I can do a lot more than what I thought I could do - I just had to try.”

It hasn’t been complete smooth sailing for Katie this year, however. After two and a half years of slowly gaining weight and losing muscle tone (while maintaining a consistent exercise and running routine) she met with her endocrinologist and was finally able to correct her thyroid medication to get her body in balance and start reaping the rewards of her dedicated movement.

Additionally, in May, she fractured her toe preventing her from running for six weeks. After fulfilling on her doctor’s orders and resting, she started building back up and even decided to register for her third marathon, the Rehoboth Marathon in Delaware on December 2nd!

You can now find Katie getting out for an early morning interval (speed work) run or at the onsite treadmill doing her “Namaste runs” - a term she coined for her easy-paced, zone 2 runs. :) She continues to stay the course slowly building toward her main event this December.

Katie, on behalf of all of us, WAY TO GO! You are a role model for being able to roll with setbacks and come back even wiser and stronger. We all wish you a fulfilling and fun experience training this fall and completing your third marathon this December!!

Keep charging everyone!

Your Suitcase of Courage Team

Yoga Trainer & ‘Try New Things Extraordinaire!’

When Passion Meets Purpose

FUJIFILM Fit Trainer, Tuffy McDonald

Maybe the most impactful phrase we will ever say to ourselves or someone else is Tuffy McDonald’s noteworthy motto, “Sure, I’ll give it a try.”

In 2014, after discovering some extra time on his hands and curious about the benefits of yoga, he gave yoga classes at the local YMCA a try. He quickly grew to adopt the practice and began taking 3-4 classes each week to stretch and strengthen his body as well as relax his active mind.

“The hardest part of yoga class is walking in.”

Being someone who loves a new challenge, he decided to go out on a limb one day and volunteer to sub the YMCA classes when, on a few occasions, the subbing instructor didn’t show up.

“I thought, ‘how hard could it really be?’”

It wasn’t long after this occasion when he was approached about the idea of bringing yoga classes onsite at FUJIFILM USA in Cypress, CA. With his faithful and optimistic outlook he responded to this manager with, “Sure, I’ll give it a try!” What he didn’t realize at the time was that she was not asking if he wanted to be a participant but if he was willing to teach!

Another door was opened and Tuffy walked through.

In 2015, he began teaching yoga onsite at FUJIFILM and helped usher in FUJIFILM Fit teaching both yoga and bodyfit several times a week in Cypress. He recalls that it was the act of being ‘called up’ to teach that sparked a sense of curiousity and enthusiasm in him.

After a year of onsite teaching under his belt, Tuffy’s passion for trying new things led him to sign up for a 200 hour yoga teacher training at a local studio. Upon completion, he began subbing there and eventually started co-teaching classes such as Yoga for Dudes, Yoga for Beginners and Yoga in the Park (during the pandemic).

What he loves about teaching and practicing yoga is the stress relief it offers beyond the physical benefits. It can clear and relax the mind. He says the biggest compliment he can get after a yoga class from a student is, “that’s just what I needed.” With those few words, he knows he did his job.

“I like to be a guide and give suggestions, not commands. It’s more about the experience of practicing yoga than getting any certain pose right.”

Tuffy’s focus now is on building and being in community with others while helping students find more depth in their yoga practices beyond a good stretch. He appreciates the mind and body wellbeing that yoga provides him, and like many of you, has been pairing his movement practices with health coaching provided by Virgin Pulse for over five years now.

So what’s it time to say, “Sure, I’ll give it a try” to in your own life??

Thank you, Tuffy, for demonstrating courage to try new things and reminding us that there’s great power in stretching beyond our perceived limitations to help others. You’ve been a cornerstone trainer for FUJIFILM Fit and we are so grateful for all the energy and care you bring to each and every class you teach!

• - -

Shine on FUJIFILM FIT Nation!

Your Suitcase of Courage Team

This September Nate will turn 43 years old. Three years ago on his 40th birthday, in a mid-life-crisis-moment, he stepped on the scale and saw a number he never imagined he’d see: 215 pounds. At 5’9” with a 40” waist, he knew he was overweight and had not been taking care of himself but never thought he would see 200lbs, let alone 215lbs. 

“I knew immediately I needed to make a life change.”

Feeling grateful for the gym onsite at FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies in Morrisville, NC, Nate started coming into work at 0530/0600 to utilize the treadmill and elliptical machines. He began eating healthier and swapping candy and cookies for protein shakes along with intermittent fasting.

It wasn’t too long before he started to become interested in running. A decade earlier, he attempted a 5K and was only able to run the first half mile before walking the rest. Despite past challenges, he got measured properly for running shoes and made his purchase. Within 6 months of running, he was 40 pounds down from his original weight! Enjoying running more, he entered a 5K and this time ran the whole thing in 30:36.  He went onto do a10K race then decided to shift from a running focus to that of strength training, stamina, endurance and flexibility though bodyfit classes onsite.

“I started trying out the FUJIFILM Fit classes taught by Chuck, Ann, Alex, and Dylan. These classes showed me quickly that although I had lost weight and I was building muscle, there was more to being in shape. They have really pushed, tested, and challenged me.”

These days, Nate alternates weightlifting and bodyfit classes (6 days a week) and notices a big difference not only physically but mentally and emotionally. He’s deeply thankful for the classes and trainers helping him with proper form and injury prevention.

Something that stands out to Nate in his health and fitness journey is the power of simply showing up. Sometimes he wouldn’t be able to complete every rep but he was thankful and knew there was more to work on for next time.

“I would encourage anyone to start their fitness journey at any time in their life.  Start slow and don’t expect instant success.  It will take time, but it will get easier.”  Do it for a least 2 weeks straight to make it turn into a habit.  Once you have that habit, being consistent will come easy and you will start to enjoy the workouts.  When you start seeing and feeling the changes you will want to work harder.”

Nate’s advice is simple: join classes, talk with others in the gym, get advice from the trainers and other professionals available.  Allow fitness to open up a whole new world and have a big positive impact on your health, your personal life, and your professional life. 

“I was on the wrong path in my health life. I was going in a negative direction and even though it has to start within your own mind to make the change, having support and guidance can and will make it easier, enjoyable, and more obtainable to reach health goals you never imagined. Thank you to everyone who kept me encouraged and excited to continue to train. “

Thank you Nate for sharing your remarkable story with us and motivating all of us to show up and do our best. The hardest part is starting but it’s always worth it!!

Keep charing and have an awesome summer 2023!

Your Team at The Suitcase of Courage

From an early age, her mother instilled in her that there’s no such thing as giving up. Over the last 15 years, she’s leaned into that belief and her internal fire to redefine her limits, shed 50 pounds, and release the parts of her that were holding her back.

Let us introduce you to Lauren Atherton (formerly Welshman) from FUJIFILM Electronic Materials in Rhode Island! She is a certified bodyfit trainer, yogi, barre instructor, all-around hardworking and highly motivated woman.

Lauren is one of the busiest trainers we know keeping her schedule consistent with 4 weekly FUJIFILM classes, as well as an additional 2-4 community classes! Needless to say, she’s a rockstar, and we’re honored to highlight her and all of her amazing wellness success over the years!

“I’m so happy that I have found my health and fitness groove. Now I want to share it. If I help just one person, it’s worth it.”

Lauren has been leading daily noon classes since 2018, and she’s known for her inclusive and empowering teaching style. She always pushes her classes to do just one more rep or one more second! “Your mind will quit long before your body will,” she says.

Fifteen years ago she came to the stark realization that it was time to make a major change in her life. She was eating to soothe uncomfortable emotions, doing crash diets, enduring digestion and fatigue issues, and lacked the self awareness to make healthy choices.

Since that time, she’s charted a new course, dropped the guilt, and decided to seek a long-term approach. It’s all about lifestyle habits she says, and that’s the message she relays to her classes and students.

“Food and movement is the most underprescribed medicine for so many ailments. Eating is a way to get nourishment. For me, it used to be an addiction.”

During her yoga and meditation training in 2017, she began having ah-ha moments around her emotional eating and cleaned up her diet. She learned how to sit in discomfort instead of reacting to it. This opened the door to having more patience and mindfulness in many areas of life - shopping, relationships, and with herself - instead of seeking instant gratification.

“I like people to feel strong. You have to get to know yourself and figure out what works for you. What works for someone else doesn’t mean it’ll be your solution too.”

Lauren, you are full of wisdom and inspiration! Thank you for giving so much of your time and energy to teaching and encouraging others on their fitness journeys. Thank you for taking on your own health and happiness. Your positive impact ripples out to countless others and elevates us all!

May we all feel strong, capable and encouraged!

This month we are pausing to celebrate four brave individuals who stepped forward into unfamiliar territory to share their workout class with the online Suitcase of Courage community!!

Tuffy McDonald, Sarah Link, Emmanuel Kacatin, and Brett Baker!!

We are beyond grateful for you and your courage in answering the call to try something new and bring your classes to Facebook live for hundreds of people who experienced them! There’s no doubt this required you to learn something new and may have even added some additional stress to your life (the good kind though)!

GREAT JOB!

For those of you who haven’t had a chance to take their classes yet, you can go find them by clicking the button below and scrolling down the page.

“If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.

There’s something to say about being able to join in the celebration and success of someone else! Be sure to fill your cup, make memories, and find the fun for yourself in whatever you do.

Meet Ty Vines!! One of the Fun in the Sun 5K participants who snagged his personal record (26:55) just a few weeks ago! Ty doesn’t necessarily crave pounding the pavement (yet), but he gets the run done because his motivation, who’s pictured with him above, is way more important than any excuses. Ty started running in the Couch to 5K program in 2017 to lose some weight and hasn’t missed a Couch to 5K program since. He appreciates the endurance he’s been able to build and the social component it’s brought to his life.

Charge on, Ty!

50 pounds lighter, healthy blood pressure, and feeling like a million bucks

This past March, after seeing his blood pressure at an all time high, Chad Robinson from Greenwood SC, set his focus on doing something - anything - to start losing weight and take back his health.

While he didn’t have his whole plan figured out, Chad wasn’t okay with sitting back and relying on the new BP medications he was given to make his situation better. With his family as his core motivation for getting healthy, Chad researched new ways to fuel and move his body. After reading about success stories with the keto diet, he began a low carb, healthy fat diet and immediately put this into practice tracking his intake with the MyFitnessPal app. With a daily visual from the app keeping him on track, his weight gradually began to decrease at about the rate of 10 pounds per month.

With newfound energy, Chad took his next step and reached out to Dylan Scott who manages the Industrial Athlete program onsite in Greenwood. Together, Dylan guided Chad through his first invigorating workout routine and designed a weekly plan to do light exercises onsite 3 times a week in the gym. Dylan’s support tracking his progress and holding Chad accountable paid off.

Over the course of the next 6 months, Chad lost over 50 pounds and got to completely replace his whole wardrobe. This was a small price to pay for consistently feeling better than he has in years, or in his words, “like a million bucks.” The initial catalyst, his blood pressure, significantly improved allowing him to come off of the medication and has remained healthy for months. He’s lost the cravings for high carb meals and soft drinks and replaced his diet with sustainable, wholesome foods.

Words from Chad:

“I encourage others to go on this journey to better health, and I know you can do it because I did. Lastly, I want to thank my wife for her support, Dylan Scott, for his oversight, and all of my Fujifilm friends who have supported me in this journey along the way.”

Chad, thanks for showing and reminding us of what’s possible when we set our minds to something positive and show up consistently. Congratulations on all your health success.

From our Fujifilm Fit Family to yours, keep charging!

You all are crushing your goals out there and we want to take a moment to celebrate Shawn Calhoun from FUJIFILM Imaging Colorants in New Castle, Delaware.

Although it’s been two years since we’ve been able visit the site due to Coronavirus, the trainers from Delaware have kept pushing forward with their workouts and health. Shawn, in particular, has stayed on track participating in the small group workout sessions, watching his nutrition and working out in the gym.

If you zoom in you can see Shawn from two years ago completing his first couch to 5k at nearly 300 pounds and now you can see how has earned his way down to nearly 220.

A HUGE accomplishment here! Way to go, Shawn!

Every now and then you may have the good fortune to meet someone who instantly boosts your energy, lifts your mood, and puts a smile on your face. We can’t think of a better way to introduce you to Emmanuel (Manny) Kacatin, FUJIFILM Sonosite Bodyfit trainer, hiker, runner, weight-lifter, and all-around wonderful human!

Manny has been finding the joy and fun in movement and exercise since he was young growing up in the beautiful Hawaiian islands. When he moved to Seattle almost 35 years ago he didn’t miss a beat in finding his fitness groove in a new location.

Manny has been a loyal participant in local running races showing up rain, shine or freshly operated thumb! That’s right, one year at the Jingle Bell Run, he amused his friends and family by running the whole time with his hand in the air to keep the swelling down! (Maybe don’t try this one at home:).

He’s been a Relay for Life participant walking in the wee hours of night as well as an annual supporter (25 years strong) of the JDRF Beat the Bridge Run for type 1 diabetes where you literally race to get across the bridge before it’s raised! Impressively, Manny has defeated the bridge every year!

Manny’s philosophy is simple and powerful: “So much of life is about mindset. Make it fun. Make everything fun!”

With a daily routine of rising before the sun, drinking two tall glasses of water, and getting the dog out around the neighborhood, he knows there is joy in the most simple of routines. After a bone spur injury in his heel, Manny was forced to wear a boot for a stretch of time but didn’t let this setback keep him from his morning ritual stroll with the pup!

“When I take care of myself, I feel happy. My vision is to be able to run at age 80!”

With his plant-based diet, healthy snacks throughout the day, and regular Virgin Pulse coaching support, we don’t doubt Manny will be able to accomplish whatever he sets his mind and light-hearted attitude to!

We’re so honored and grateful for Manny’s commitment to teaching Bodyfit (currently on Monday’s at 11:30am) since 2016!! He says it feels good to walk the talk and teach others.

“There’s always time to get a workout in. I’m now a believer in the 25 minute workout!”

Way to go Manny Kacatin! You’re definitely walking the talk and encouraging others with your light!

Be awesome FUJIFILM NATION,

Your Suitcase of Courage Team

Chelsie Marshall is a Quality Control Engineer at FUJIFILM Electronic Materials in Mesa, Arizona. In 2021, she became a certified FiTour yoga trainer and quickly became a fan favorite yoga teacher in Mesa!

Her story is one of faith, patience, strength and resilience. Chelsie was born without a thyroid, and over the course of her lifetime suffered the consequences of inconsistent hormone levels, fatigue, reduced metabolism and other significant challenges stemming from congenital hypothyroidism.

Around 2018, she noticed some people in her life were growing concerned about her and her health. When she paused to evaluate things herself, she realized she was constantly tired, on edge, and overweight. At her heaviest, she was around 200 pounds. That same year she decided to make big changes.

“My body hurt, and because I was in pain, I was unhappy and apathetic a good majority of the time. I felt nauseated often due to my poor diet and consuming things that were inflammatory on a regular basis. I was not listening to the cues my body was giving me, and it showed in several aspects of my life.”

She could no longer stand being a victim of her circumstances, and big lifestyle adjustments followed. She began eating mostly clean, whole foods, doing yoga, and started working with her body instead of ‘on’ her body. This opened the door to much more freedom and creativity in her workouts and prevented burnout. She took time for her mental health by making self-care and self-compassion a daily practice through meditation, skin care, and having clear boundaries. Gradually, she noticed tangible progress and momentum. She felt more confident, and much less anxious, angry and critical.

Someone recently told her, “The Chelsie today is vastly different from the Chelsie a year ago." She carries that statement of encouragement as a marker of the commitment she made to herself to be healthier in all aspects.

Her dedication has been worthwhile and she’s not stopping!

The next goal of Chelsie’s is to get strong enough to do a yoga handstand!

“I've been practicing and I've fallen down a lot, but I've gotten good at picking myself back up to try again.”

Isn’t that all that really matters??

Chelsie, you are inspiring and unstoppable!

Thank you for sharing your amazing journey with us.

Be awesome,

Your Suitcase of Courage Team

P.S. Are you holding onto a story of your own we could share?? Let us know!

Meet Sushma!

There’s nothing nearing a milestone birthday to add some urgency and motivation to our goals! For Sushma, she always wanted to run a half marathon before turning 40. Her main obstacle was the thought she had “how and where do I begin?”

When FUJIFILM FIT launched the onsite program with bodyfit and yoga classes, it seemed like a really good first step. So, with a finish line vision in mind, she jumped right into the classes and program.

Then, in early 2016, Sushma’s goal was further supported with the announcement of the Couch 2 5K program. With the encouragement and guidance of the leaders, she worked on core and strength training to supplement the outdoor training runs. This set her up with a great foundation for her moving into longer distance running in a healthy and sustainable way.

The Couch 2 5K race selected was the Mercer Island 5K in Seattle which weaved through beautiful wooded neighborhoods and included a couple challenging hills. Feeling prepared and excited, Sushma crossed her first-ever race finish line in stride without walking any sections. At that point, she knew the running bug had bit her!

Over the course of the next few years, Sushma continued to build her fitness and stamina steadily by taking yoga and bodyfit during the week and running on the weekends. At the beginning of 2018, she took the leap and signed up for the Seattle Rock and Roll Half Marathon. With a 10-mile training run under her belt she felt confident she’d be able to complete the entire 13.1 on race day. In June, she achieved her bucketlist goal to run a half marathon before her 40th birthday! The joy and sense of accomplishment she felt running through the finish line is something she still savors today.

This year she improved her half marathon time by 25 minutes at the Virgina Mason Mother’s Day race and has opened her mind to a possible full marathon in the future!

Her big takeaways from this fitness journey have been the power of eating right, exercising and losing over 20 pounds. Her dedication has inspired her family to get on board with the lifestyle as well. And, while completing the races and crossing the finish lines have been huge achievements for Sushma, she says, “it’s the beautiful journey it takes me on not the destination.”

Sushma, way to set a goal, seize the opportunities around you, and go for it! We are so inspired by your simple message to start somewhere and take the first step. That first step has lead to many many more and we will be cheering you on at your first full marathon!

Happy strides!

Malcon Ruiz has been with Fujifilm AZ since 2017. He has been a leader of Industrial Athleticism stretches for his team and continues to be a force for lifelong fitness.

In the past, as someone who would eat out and drink soda often, he grew tired of the way he looked and felt. He noticed that he would work out for a while to get in better shape and once he made progress he would get lax around the workouts. The progress would then disappear, and the cycle continued. That is, until this past February when Malcon decided to get in shape and stay in shape!

Since the beginning of 2022, Malcon has completely dialed in his nutrition and exercise habits. What started as motivation to lose weight and tone up for his cousin's wedding has turned into a sustained personal commitment. He goes to the grocery store each weekend then prepares and cooks his food for the week to ensure he's eating what he wants to. He gets up early, makes his protein shake, packs his gym back and currently hits the gym each day after work for 90 minutes. And yes, he has said goodbye to soda and fast food!

Malcon has gone from 235 to 197 pounds over this year. He’s focused on feeling the way he want to feel: fit and toned. Perhaps the coolest part of this success story is that his cousin is now packing his lunch and hitting the gym along with more and more co-workers who can't help but be inspired by his newfound energy and happiness.

Let’s give a collective “Way to go, Malcon!!” Congratulations on all of your success, turning your habits around, and continuing to reach for the next level!

Keep charging everyone (whatever that looks like for you!),

The Suitcase of Courage Team

Every now and then we stand back in awe of the tremendous support and effort several of you have made in your own lives to make the FUJIFILM FIT Program successful. Today, we want to celebrate an incredible champion of the program who’s deep passion for fitness and helping others has fueled him through 200 marathon distance runs, countless bodyfit and yoga classes as well as the biggest comeback of his own life, cancer. He has inspired so many over the course of his life and would be the last to boast about it -so we will for him!

Meet Ben Wicker! Ben is one of the very first bodyfit trainers and a recently retired Chemist from Greenwood, South Carolina!

Ben is no stranger to adversity and brings his resilient spirit and down-to-earth personality into everything he does.

Before the inception of FUJIFILM Fit, Ben became his own trainer when he was diagnosed with sarcoma cancer and in his 40’s. He remembers times he would get on the stationary bike post treatment and start spinning to try and flush his body of the chemo and restore as much vitality as possible. Then there was the unforgettable time it took him 60 minutes to reach one mile on the treadmill. That takes courage.

Toward the end of his cancer journey, Ben recalls the thrill of being able to get in a pool and swim again. He continued to swim, cycle and run routinely once he was healed and in remission.

These days, Ben continues to challenge what is possible and is redefining retirement. You’ll find him teaching bodyfit, yoga and couch to 5K classes at FUJIFILM. He’s crossing off goals like running his 200th marathon distance race, finishing the New York City half and full marathons as well as traveling to Greece and toeing various start lines there!

He firmly believes fitness is all about being around other people, talking, sharing, and enjoy the fellowship together. For him, it’s not so much about the times and PR’s, he simply loves watching others move forward and experience the benefits of fitness themselves.

And while he knows that aging is inevitable, the loss of muscle mass can be significantly slowed by continuing to move and sweat. He inspires others in his community to do the same.

While this is only a portion of his story, we wanted to share it with the Fit Nation and celebrate the tremendous impact Ben Wicker has made in his sphere of influence and beyond.

Ben, you are an unstoppable force - thank you!!

Brett Baker knows a thing or two about persistence, dedication and carrying a weighted hiking pack all around his neighborhood… For someone who never fully considered himself an athlete, Brett has reinvented himself over the years and has heeded the call of adventure and exercise bringing his friends and family with him for the ride!

In 2014, after three previous attempts to fully summit the most challenging mountain in the continental US, Brett safely reached the summit of Mount Rainier where he could finally exhale and celebrate his long-time goal. A goal that required endurance, strength, reason and patience. Later in 2017, he climbed Rainier again for the 5th time and summited with the feeling of amazement after a whole lot of struggling to get there.

To say that Brett Baker is reliable, resilient and hard-working is an understatement. As a trained engineer, Brett knew that in order to even attempt Mount Rainer (over 11 years ago), he was going to need a plan - and a methodical one at that. That is when his commitment to a full fledged fitness journey began.

Finding a family friend that was willing to take him on bike rides to build his endurance and climbing muscles, Brett set out on a movement journey that continues to thrive and evolve today. In order to train for his Mount Rainier backpacking trip, he started loading up his hiking pack with rocks and walking the hills in his neighborhood. Undeterred by the strange looks, Brett was routinely spotted and eventually asked to join his neighbor’s annual Mount LeConte hiking trip in Tennessee!

Today he swims, runs, cycles, teaches yoga and bodyfit and doesn’t hesitate to help anyone who needs an extra hand with their pack.

When Brett sets his mind on a goal, he breaks it down and creates the plan. Then, it’s all systems go and he’s set in motion! He values balance and doing yoga with his endurance exercise to promote longevity and flexibility. His current goal is to spend two weeks downhill skiing somewhere awesome - and yes, a tactical training plan is in the works!

Whether it’s climbing up mountains, leading a yoga or bodyfit class, or skiing in Montana, he’s on a journey and bringing others with him for the ride!

Thank you Brett Baker for all that you do to support FUJIFILM FIT and inspiring this community to make a plan then go for it!

Hope everyone has a sweaty and endorphin filled week!

As an organization, it's important to invest in the health and well-being of your employees. One effective way to do this is by adopting a "train the trainer" approach to wellness. This means providing members of your workforce with the education and training they need to become wellness champions within your organization.

There are many benefits to adopting a train the trainer approach to wellness. First and foremost, it empowers your employees to take ownership of their own health and well-being. By providing them with the knowledge and tools they need to promote wellness within your organization, you're giving them the ability to make a real difference in the lives of their coworkers.

In addition to empowering your employees, a train the trainer approach can also help to ensure that your wellness initiatives are consistent and effective. When members of your workforce are trained to promote wellness within your organization, they can help to ensure that the messages and strategies are consistent across the board. This can help to maximize the impact of your wellness initiatives and ensure that they are effective in promoting the health and well-being of your employees.

Another benefit of a train the trainer approach is that it can help to create a culture of wellness within your organization. When members of your workforce are trained to promote wellness, they can help to create a supportive and healthy environment within your organization. This can foster a sense of community and support among your employees, and can ultimately lead to improved health and well-being for everyone.

In addition to the benefits for your employees, a train the trainer approach can also have a positive impact on your organization as a whole. Investing in the health and well-being of your workforce can lead to improved morale and productivity, as well as reduced absenteeism and turnover. This can ultimately benefit your bottom line, as a healthy and engaged workforce is likely to be the change you’ve always wanted for your organization.

The Suitcase of Courage team is proud to announce it’s partnership with SCRA to promote the advancement of South Carolina based entrepreneurs with our $15,500 donation to the fund in 2022.

In partnership with Fujifilm Holdings America Corporation, we are pleased to announce the opening of our 12th Fujifilm Fit location in eight years in Mesa, Arizona. We began planning the expansion in 2016 when it was just barren desert, and now we over 200 employees that have 24/7 access to the gym, with classes to be launched later in 2021.

Check out the photos below of the project.

In the second year of the Hyrox VCF competition Suitcase of Courage team member Dylan Scott walked away from the single day event with two top 10 finishes against athletes around the globe. As one of the only people to opt to compete in both competitions, Scott was tasked with completing 3 workouts per division in a 24 hour period. With no tracks available due to the Northeast winter, Scott found himself marking and running his two mile time trials in an empty icy parking lot. Despite the subpar conditions he still managed solid showings on the leaderboard for both runs. The shift from a competition style where athletes had 1 week to post their best effort for a given workout, to having only 24 hours to complete all the workouts in each division whittled down those willing to double and complete all 6. However, in SOC fashion Scott wanted to take things a little further and decided to keep charging