Miles for Heroes Recap (Ainsley's Angels) - "We get to do this"

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Something different this time: no guest chair, nineteen voices.

On September 26th, Ainsley's Angels of South Alabama rolled across its first start line at the Miles for Heroes 5K in Daphne, hosted by I Got Your 6 Gulf Coast — and this episode hands the microphone to the people who made it happen.

You'll hear from the runners who pushed, the parents whose kids rode, and the riders themselves — including a four-year-old coach named Ryann.

Allison tells the whole story of a podcast interview that planted the idea, a mentor chapter in New Orleans, a January launch, a community that bought eight chariots and then showed up early on race morning asking to be put to work.

It's about inclusion without limits, being somebody's legs, and four little words that echo through the whole hour: we get to do this.

Find a chapter near you (or start one): ainsleysangels.org
Learn about I Got Your Six Gulf Coast and Miles for Heroes — mental health support for veterans and first responders.


Speakers
Cara Lewis — rider's mom, on what inclusion really means
Jessica Godfrey — runner and volunteer, "this is what inclusion is supposed to look like"
Emily Rogers — runner, on a race that isn't about your PR
Allie Eslava — runner, "what if one day that's me"
Skye Guy — runner, carrying on her grandmother DeDe's village
Sarah Beth Hollingsworth — the runner who brought Ainsley's to her run club
Veronica Steele — pushed four-year-old Ryann with her mom Sidney; "we get to do this"
Ryann Dougherty — angel rider, age four, "like you're flying"
JC — runner
Stuart Bolen — runner, on setting your own PRs aside
Janet Bolen — pushed Team Julian, "for those minutes we're a team"
Leah Long — the other half of Team Julian's legs
Julian's mom (Team Julian) — a parent's gratitude
Bethany Madson — runner, "your legs can carry more than just you"
Ruby & Poppy Madson — young runners who helped other kids feel the finish line
Cherinna Coulter — Team Asher, "inclusion without limits"
Peyton Gaillard — Team Asher, Disney music on the uphills
Grey Gaillard — chariot crew, on watching a dream materialize
Allison Gaillard — host; founder of the Ainsley's Angels South Alabama chapter


Races Mentioned
Miles for Heroes 5K
Joe Cain 5K
Bras Across the Causeway


Shout Outs
I Got Your Six Gulf Coast — Mark, Jackie, and the whole board, for hosting the debut and saying "come back every year"
Bubbles (aka Jackson) — the Ainsley's rider whose "anybody can do this" started it all
Ainsley's Angels of New Orleans — the mentor chapter
The chariot donors: Candy at Magnolia Soap Company (the first Freedom Chair), the Joe Cain 5K runners, Bras Across the Causeway, Rhonda from Mississippi, Mr. John at Manci's, the bingo-night crew at the waterfront, and Allison's in-laws
Manci's Run Club, Fairhope Run Club, and Fleet Feet Pensacola — the running family that showed up
Jessica (who ran the tent), Janet, Stuart, Grey, and Peyton (chariot crew)
Team Julian, Asher, Ryann, Hilary, Dustin, Liam — and Tiffany with the girl squad
Scott, Stephen, and Dave — the big dreamers behind the podcast
The Patreon family, and every runner, rider, volunteer, and cheerer at Miles for Heroes

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