Supporting People With Disabilities One Mile at a Time

By Allison Stevens | March 17, 2026

A retired Marine combat Veteran, Kim “Rooster” Rossiter spent most of his adult life in motion. But as a parent, movement became something else entirely.

His daughter, Ainsley, was born at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and, a few years later, was diagnosed with infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy, a rare and progressive condition that causes paralysis. Like many families navigating complex medical conditions, Rossiter and his wife adjusted their lives around appointments, care schedules and therapies. 

In 2008, a therapist suggested something different: an outdoor run in a specialized chair. Though not a runner, Rossiter decided to register for a local road race—and both were hooked. Ainsley lit up from the speed, the air and the scenery, and Rossiter loved rolling together in the wind. 

“I got to go outside and run with my daughter and take all machines off, and just go,” he recalled. Soon, father and daughter were running regularly and were joined by her mom, Lori, and their two other kids. The races helped the whole family cope with the devastating fact that Ainsley had a terminal illness. Eventually friends and members of their Virginia Beach community joined, and the practice grew into a movement for disability rights.

Inclusion without limits

Ainsley passed away a decade ago at 12, but her legacy lives on in a nonprofit organization founded by her parents that calls for “inclusion without limits,” with the goal of ensuring that everyone can experience endurance events. To advance that mission, Ainsley’s Angels of America pairs disabled athletes with volunteer runners and supporters (aka “Guardian Angels”), creating opportunities for inclusion at races across the country. 

From small town 5Ks to major endurance events, the mission is simple and consistent: everyone, of all abilities, deserves access to the course. “The feeling I get from running is really just hard to describe,” Rossiter said. “But what I do know is it’s something I want every human to experience.”

The nonprofit has quickly grown toward that goal, now serving more than 40,000 people across hundreds of communities nationwide. “I just never imagined that going for multiple runs with my daughter would ever have led to a family” of this size, Rossiter said. “That’s positive energy that is undeniably beautiful.” 

Military roots

That mission has deep roots in the military community.

Ainsley’s Angels is active near Navy and Marine Corps bases across the country, including Hampton Roads, Virginia; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; San Antonio, Texas; Washington, DC; and Gulfport, Mississippi. For Rossiter, a retired Marine of 25 years, the military presence is a natural fit. Much of the organization’s growth has come through relationships formed during his service, as fellow Servicemembers brought the mission back to their own communities.

Over time, Ainsley’s Angels began hosting its own race series while also partnering with established events. These partnerships expand access while reinforcing a shared commitment to service, remembrance and inclusion.

Earlier this month, Ainsley’s Angels held its Run With Your Heart race near Camp Lejeune, a longstanding event that draws military families and returning participants year after year. Later in the month, it will host the Heart & Sole 5K at Mount Trashmore in Virginia Beach, a flat, family-friendly course located not far from where Rossiter’s journey with Navy Federal and the Marine Corps first intersected. And, a half dozen other races are planned throughout the rest of the year. Together, the races reflect the organization’s approach: local, accessible and built around community rather than spectacle.

Financial stability

Growth, however, brings its own challenges.

Running a national nonprofit requires steady planning, financial discipline and the ability to sustain operations through uncertainty. Equipment must be maintained. Travel and training must be planned. Payroll, insurance and program costs must be met.

Rossiter, president of Ainsley’s Angels and a professor of disability culture at Old Dominion University, learned those lessons early.

When he entered the Marine Corps in 1994, one of his first stops was Navy Federal Credit Union to set up direct deposit. From his first checking account to car loans, credit cards and eventually a mortgage, Navy Federal was a constant presence as his life evolved.

After getting married and starting a family, Rossiter and his wife opened joint accounts and began long-term planning. At one point, that meant opening an education-focused IRA to prepare for their children’s future. Later, while stationed in Virginia Beach, Rossiter began paying closer attention to maximizing returns through Navy Federal’s certificates of deposit (CDs). What started as a way to park money temporarily became a broader financial strategy that has influenced nonprofit leadership through periods of uncertainty. 

When markets dropped sharply during the early months of the pandemic, Rossiter rebalanced his portfolio with CDs. By staggering maturity dates, a practice known as laddering, Rossiter created a rhythm that ensured growth on a predictable schedule. When a CD matured, he could decide whether to reinvest, redirect funds or adjust based on current needs. Over the years, he has owned more than 80 CDs.

Dozens of CDs

The same thinking eventually carried over to the nonprofit.

As Ainsley’s Angels grew, the organization began applying similar principles to its financial planning, with the goal of stable, long-term growth. Predictable cash flow allows the team to focus on riders, volunteers and programs and avoid short-term funding gaps. The approach improved flexibility, reduced pressure and allowed for thoughtful decisions. He also shared the idea at home. His son, now serving in the Coast Guard, adopted a similar approach early in his career, using CDs as part of a broader financial foundation. 

Rossiter points out that inclusion does not require grand gestures. It requires planning, patience and systems that support people over the long term. In that sense, the parallels between his personal financial journey and the nonprofit’s mission are clear. Today, Ainsley’s Angels’ impact extends beyond races to disability awareness programs. 

Looking ahead, Ainsley’s Angels continues to focus on sustainable growth through partnerships, expanded education initiatives and a deeper presence in military communities. Ultimately, though, Rossiter measures success in moments: a Veteran completing a race surrounded by family, a child experiencing movement in a new way or a father placing a medal around his daughter’s neck after running their first race together.

“The only way that you can really move forward in anything and to really live life that’s fulfilling is to feel the highs and to feel the lows,” Rossiter said. “We chose to find those simple things in life and to celebrate them, and be grateful for them, because they flee. Her short life taught us that.”

learn more about Ainsley's Angels of America and opportunities to save at Navy Federal.