Barbara was born in New York, raised in the suburbs of Washington D.C., lived in Los Angeles for 17 years, and now reside near Atlanta, Georgia. She worked for a computer company for almost 30 years and now works part time doing consulting jobs for a company she formed with a few of her fellow retirees. Barbara volunteers at a local theater and does projects for the community in which she lives. Barbara has two sons, one graduated college and the other is her Marine. A veteran now, having served in both OIF and OEF, is in the process of determining what it is he wants to do next. "It’s nice to have him back."

Barbara is the manager of OperationPAL™ an outreach project of MarineParents.com. "I’m doing the Marine Corps 10k in honor of those men and women who have been injured or who have fallen ill."

Barbara shares with us her feelings on why she is walking the 10K and the importance of this event to her, "I am not a runner. I will walk this race. I am doing it because I can. My heart aches for all the young and former able-bodied Marines who are now less physically functional than they used to be, and who are fighting to regain strength or learning to adapt to changed bodies. They are my inspiration. They return to the US on stretchers and spend months and years in hospitals and rehab centers working to re-learn everyday tasks. They and their families go about recovery with such vigor and resolve that it brings tears to my eyes. All they want to do is ‘get back out there’. That’s my wish for them too."

"Sending cards and letters of support through OperationPAL™ to the injured or ill Marine's and Corpsmen who have requested them is a gratifying way to spend time. This walk will acquire much needed funds to get many cards and letters to their destinations. Thanks to all of you who are helping me. Semper Family"