By Airik Myers, Northwest Region

When Willie Craig retired from both military service and state employment, he found himself facing a challenge that many retirees experience. After years of staying active through work, his daily routine suddenly changed.

“I sat around doing nothing,” Willie said. “I kind of shot up to 300 pounds.”

Concerned about his health, Willie knew he needed to make a change. Rather than settling into a sedentary lifestyle, he began looking for an opportunity that would keep him moving while allowing him to continue serving others. That search led him to the American Red Cross.

A New Chapter After Retirement

For Willie, volunteering was about more than finding something to do. It was about finding purpose and staying active.

“I figured that I needed to do something to keep moving,” he said. “Otherwise, you end up with a heart attack, especially at my age.”

When he joined the Red Cross, Willie quickly found what he was looking for. He began serving as a patient escort at Madigan Army Medical Center, helping patients navigate appointments and move throughout the facility.

The role kept him on his feet. In his early days as a volunteer, Willie estimates he was walking between 10,000 and 12,000 steps every shift.

“That helped me lose weight,” he said. “Plus, it gave me the exercise that I need to keep moving.”

The Power of Staying Active

Today, Willie is 83 years old and takes pride in maintaining an active lifestyle.

“I think I probably get around like most 60-year-olds and some 50-year-olds,” he said with a laugh.

He credits much of that mobility to staying active through volunteer service.

“My doctor used to tell me, ‘Motion is lotion,’” Willie said. “It keeps the knees good to go.”

The benefits have extended beyond weight loss. Willie says he has avoided major joint issues and remains physically independent because he continues to stay active and engaged.

“As long as I'm moving, I am doing well,” he said.

Giving Back Through Service

While the physical benefits have been significant, Willie says the people are what keep him coming back.

As a patient escort, he meets individuals from all walks of life. Whether helping someone get to an appointment or guiding them back to their vehicle, he enjoys the opportunity to connect with others and make their day a little easier.

“I get to meet lots of people,” he said. “Just talking to people and being able to help them move back and forth to their car, to their appointment, or whatever else they need. That's my biggest thing.”

The work is especially meaningful because it allows him to give back to the military community.

“It's at a military hospital,” Willie said. “I consider it giving back to the organization that gave me so much for 22 years.”

Encouraging Others to Get Involved

Willie believes there is a volunteer opportunity for nearly everyone at the Red Cross.

“Red Cross has all kinds of different things that people can do,” he said.

From supporting local programs to responding to disasters across the country, volunteers play a critical role in helping communities recover and rebuild.

“Just being able to help your fellow citizens is quite a plus,” he said.

Looking back, Willie never expected that volunteering would change his life the way it did. What started as a way to stay active became a path to better health, stronger connections, and continued service.

For Willie, the experience proves that sometimes the best way to help yourself is by helping others.