'PIT Stop' provides safe fitness area for parents with young babies

  • Published
  • By Staff Reports
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Parents with very young babies now have a place to work out while at the same time keeping their children close by. 

The PIT Stop (Parents and Infants in Training) room at the Bob Hope Community Center is open seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends and holidays, and has an elliptical machine, stationary bike and treadmill for moms and dads to use, along with two baby nests for infants. 

The PIT Stop was designed and created as a direct result of a customer comment. A chance opportunity between an Airman and Col. Jeffery Bateman, 100th Mission Support Group Commander, set the ball rolling. The Airman mentioned to Colonel Bateman that it was difficult for his spouse and himself to work out with his young baby. 

For safety reasons, the fitness centers do not allow strollers and his son was too young to go into the Fun Zone where there is also exercise equipment for parents use.
The Community Center stepped up to the challenge of providing such a room. 

Lt. Col. Rich Wagner, 100th Force Support Squadron Commander and his wife, Crystal, led the volunteer team to paint the room and make it ready for the fitness equipment. As well as the exercise equipment, the room also provides stroller parking, baby nests, flat screen TV, an emergency telephone and CCTV cameras. 

"We are proud we have been able to provide a safe and secure environment for parents of young children to exercise." said Margarita Andrews, 100th Force Support Squadron program director at the BHCC. "There is also fitness equipment in an area in the fun zone (also in the BHCC) and parents with babies who also have older children are encouraged to use that."

One mom who has already used the area several times is Kelly Frey, 100th Operations Support Squadron family member. She and her husband and daughter have been at RAF Mildenhall for just three weeks, but already Mrs. Frey has discovered the benefits of the PIT Stop. 

"This is definitely a good idea to have somewhere to work out and be able to have your baby close by - I wouldn't be able to exercise otherwise," she said, as daughter Ella, 6 months, sat safely in a baby nest close by. 

"It's really nice in here and I recommend it - and it's so easy as you can come straight into here from the outside door, so you don't have to trek through the whole of the community center and other rooms," she said. 

For safety reasons, the room is only for parents with very young, non-mobile children.