“Go, Fran!" — moment of strength at National Senior Games

At the National Senior Games in West Des Moines, it didn’t take long for inspiration to strike — and for joy to break out in an unexpected and moving way.

WesleyLife is a sponsor of the event, and at our booth in the Midamerican Energy Company RecPlex, a group of women gathered at our invitation for a hula-hooping challenge. They call themselves the Women Warriors — a tight-knit basketball team of 10 over-50 women from the state of Washington, many of whom have faced immense life challenges. On this day, though, they were together in celebration.

As the music played and hoops spun, one teammate, Fran, stepped up with a determined grin: “I’m going to beat the record of the day," she said. And she did — to the cheers of a growing crowd chanting, “Go, Fran! Go, Fran!”

When asked if she wanted to add her name to the leaderboard, Fran instead asked to write Women Warriors — a testament to the strength of sisterhood and shared experience. “Six of us have had breast cancer,” she said. “We lean on each other. We are warriors.”

For WesleyLife team member Chrissa, who recently completed her own breast cancer treatments, the moment was deeply personal. She and the Women Warriors shared hugs, stories, and tears — a reminder that the Games are about more than competition. They're about connection, courage, and the resilience that defines healthy aging.

As a proud sponsor of this year’s National Senior Games, WesleyLife celebrates stories like this that remind us why our vision matters. We are honored to support dynamic, inclusive experiences that revolutionize aging — one joyful hoop, hug, and chant at a time.