Strides4kidz- One Coach's Effort to Make a Difference

Longwood University's Assistant Women's Soccer Coach, Svetozar "Steve" Brdarski, has started his very own charity with support from his team and his friends. Brdarski wants to make a difference and be remembered for something great much like the inspiration for the group Sgt. Andrew McConnell who passed away in September 2009. Brdarski described him as "a great young man who served his family, friends and country everyday of his life." In a message sent out to all the members of the Strides4kidz Facebook group, Brdarski stated that at Sgt. McConnell's "it was said that ‘one’s life is not judged by the duration, but by the donation you give to life’. Sgt. McConnell and this idea inspired Brdarski to do something more with his life, to give back, and to help children in need.

He wants this to "continue to be a driving force in [his] life and other people's lives." The group's mission is explained in more detail in an article I wrote for Longwood University's campus newspaper, The Rotunda. Since this article the group's membership has jumped to 480 and more concrete plans have been made for the Shamrock Marathon coming up on March 20 in Virginia Beach. Brdarski is looking forward to this event and is asking that even "if you can’t run or donate, don’t worry. Feel free to come down to Va. Beach and join the rest of the group that will be down." He has plans to interact with the kids there and he hopes to "be giving out free T-shirts."

The marathon is going to be raising money for the VCU Children's Medical Center. Shira Cantor, public relations coordinator for the medical center, stated that "this is the first year they have done the marathon to benefit us." All money raised for Strides4kidz will be going directly to the medical center. Brdarski explained,

"I want every single penny to go to whoever we’re trying to help. The good thing about the race coming up is that I’m not even touching the money."

All money raised in the name of Strides4kidz from now until the marathon is going to the VCU Children's Medical Center. Once the race is over another child or group of children in need will be selected as the focus of the group. Brdarski told the group, "The most important thing is to think about the lil' people ... If there is a situation or someone you know that needs help, please tell me so that we can get information out to the group."

Brdarski and Ashlee McConnell, a former member of the women's soccer team and Longwood University alum, are working to sell the T-shirts with the logo shown above displayed on the front. Brdarski is "currently looking for a business sponsor for the shirts, so that all the money can be donated to VCU Children’s Hospital."

On top of running in other organizations' marathons, Brdarski would like to set up his own Strides4kidz marathon at Longwood University. He has considered "doing a 5k on campus in [Sgt. McConnell's] honor for the ROTC program" but no plans have been set as of yet. "The second thing I want to do is to get Longwood students to go to the YMCA and work with the after school athletic programs [and] eventually I'd like to set up a race for kids in this area.” He stated that he wants to help the kids in the local community as much as he wants to help kids all over the world. Brdarski has big plans for the fledgling charity and he wants everyone to get on board, including children. He's asking that "if you've got kids bring them to the race ... that's who I want to see there."

One goal that Brdarski hopes to see accomplished is that children can "eventually say that 'Strides4kidz really helped me out whether it be that Strides4kidz put me on the right path or gave me the attention I needed to get confidence in myself or helped me pay my medical bills so I could get on with my life.'" He strongly believes that this charity is not only about raising money because, he explains,

"Money helps in a lot of situations but so can your time and energy."

He wants this charity to help children financially but to also do something for them individually. The Facebook group should be looked at like an open forum, Brdarski stated, where people can get on there and post about children in need so that Strides4kidz can work to find a way to help.

Interested in helping out? Go to Facebook and search Strides4kidz.