What Started As A Community Walk Became Something Much Bigger In Southern Maryland

WarCycle Lexington Park MD — Photos Provided By Mark & Anissa Davis

LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — What began as a partnership with the St. Mary’s County Health Department during the COVID-19 pandemic has grown into a community tradition that continues to bring Southern Maryland residents together.

When gyms closed and many people found themselves isolated from friends, neighbors and support systems, WarCycle began organizing community walks as a simple way to help people get outside and stay active.

What started as an opportunity to exercise quickly revealed something larger. People weren’t just looking for exercise. They were looking for connection.

Over time, conversations started. Friendships formed. Neighbors met neighbors. People who may have never crossed paths discovered they had more in common than they realized.

Today, the Southern Maryland fitness organization founded by Mark and Anissa Davis is celebrating its 10th year serving the community and its fourth year organizing community walks.

One participant connected with another woman who had experienced a similar personal tragedy. Others found accountability partners, encouragement and a sense of belonging that extended far beyond the walking trail.

“We’ve seen countless friendships grow from this,” Davis said. “People realize they’re not alone.”

That sense of community has become one of the defining aspects of WarCycle’s mission.

While many residents know the organization for its cycling events and fitness classes, Davis says the goal has always been much broader than exercise. At its core, WarCycle is about helping people move — physically, mentally and socially.

“Just get out and move,” Davis said. “Put your headphones on, get outside, enjoy nature. The hardest part is taking that first step.”

That message has resonated with people from all backgrounds — young adults, retirees, parents, children, veterans, experienced athletes and people who may not have exercised in years.

There is no fitness requirement. No expectation. Just an invitation.

“If you look to your left and your right, that’s your battle buddy,” Anissa Davis said. “We’re a family. We will never embarrass you.”

For Davis, a disabled veteran, creating that sense of support has become one of the most rewarding parts of the organization’s work.

Over the past decade, WarCycle has taken that mission throughout Southern Maryland, hosting fitness classes, cycling events, family reunions, fundraisers, breast cancer awareness rides, domestic violence awareness events and private community programs.

The organization is fully mobile and often brings fitness opportunities directly to neighborhoods, families and community groups.

“We bring fitness to the people,” Davis said.

In a region where obesity, diabetes, heart disease and stress continue to affect countless families, Davis believes many people underestimate the power of simply moving more.

“You can’t outwork a bad diet, especially as you get older,” he said. “It’s a lifestyle.”

Still, WarCycle isn’t selling six-pack abs or miracle transformations.

The goal is much simpler. Help people start. For some, that first walk becomes a fitness routine. For others, it becomes a social outlet. Some discover new confidence. Others simply find a reason to get out of the house. And that’s enough.

Because sometimes changing your life begins with something as simple as a walk around the block. And sometimes that walk leads to a healthier body, a new friendship and a stronger community.

For more information, visit WarCycle online at www.warcycle.co, follow them on Instagram at @we_are_warcycle, connect on Facebook at facebook.com/WarCycle, or watch their content on TikTok at @markymark_warcycle.