The Kirstie Ennis Story

The Kirstie Ennis’ story has been well documented, from being featured on the cover of ESPN The Magazine’s “Body” issue and in People magazine, to appearing on Tamron Hall and being featured in a Sports Emmy nominated segment on HBO’s Real Sports.

Kirstie Ennis | Video | Facebook

Adventure Athlete, USMC Veteran

Kirstie Ennis’s journey commenced with the loss of her leg in Afghanistan, yet it’s far from its conclusion. Enduring 48 surgeries and multiple amputations, the ex-Marine Sergeant, at 32, surpasses many lifetimes’ achievements. Ennis, inspired by her Marine parents, enlisted at 17. Defying notions of disability, she excels, aiming to conquer the Seven Summits by 2023, advocating and fundraising along the way. Beyond her athletic feats, Ennis holds three Master’s degrees and pursues a Doctorate in Education. Founder of The Kirstie Ennis Foundation, she champions causes and serves in various nonprofits. A savvy entrepreneur, she invests in startups and practices real estate. Honors adorn her, including the ESPY’s Pat Tillman Award and induction into the International Sports Hall of Fame as its youngest member.

Kirstie Ennis, a Milton, Fla. native, Afghanistan war veteran and amputee, — A Marine Corps veteran who turned to outdoor sports and launched a nonprofit foundation after losing her leg in combat was honored with the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2019 ESPYS. After surviving a helicopter crash in Afghanistan, Sgt. Kirstie Ennis underwent more than a dozen surgeries addressing trauma to her brain, spine and shoulder. When doctors decided to amputate her left leg above the knee, Ennis embraced outdoor activities as she recovered, walking 1,000 miles across Britain for a charity event and earning three gold medals in swimming at the Warrior Games.

She’s currently working to summit all seven of the world’s highest peaks and said she “does more now on one leg than she ever even dreamed of doing on two.” Ennis also launched the Kirstie Ennis Foundation with the mission of “improving the quality of life of individuals and families” and providing “education, opportunity, and healing in the outdoors.”

“After being medically retired from the Marine Corps due to my injuries sustained overseas, I have dedicated my life to serving others in a different way. To receive the Pat Tillman Award and to be associated with a true American hero is a tremendous honor,” Ennis said in a news release.

“It has taken a village to get me to this point in my life, and I would not be where I am now without the amazing people surrounding me. To me, this is a symbol of community and what it means to pay it forward.”

Why We Should All Be Like Kirstie

MIGHTY 25: From amputation to activist, Kirstie Ennis promotes healing through outdoors (wearethemighty.com)

After joining the Marine Corps to serve others, Sergeant Ennis was injured when her helicopter crashed on her second deployment to Afghanistan and she was forced into medical retirement. After struggling through over 40 surgeries, including an amputation, she was in search of a way to be of service again. In the early stages of her recovery, Kirstie relied heavily on outdoor therapy to get her life back. Thanks to her experiences Kirstie does more now on one leg, than she ever dreamed of doing on two.

In 2017, Kirstie committed to her Climbing for a Cause initiative – climbing the highest peak on each of the seven continents while raising funds and awareness for charity. Kirstie has turned the concept of “disabled athlete” on it’s head, proving how capable she still is. While she continued to summit the tallest mountains in the world, Kirstie developed the goal to share outdoor recreational therapy with underserved communities and created The Kirstie Ennis Foundation. Kirstie started holding group and individual outdoor experiences and she found a new way to serve.

Kirstie wants to provide opportunity in the outdoors, and ultimately opportunity for the rest of peoples lives. The possibilities in the outdoors are endless. “I never wanted people to ever feel the way I did- alone, lost in recovery. I wanted to give people hope, community, and a reason to show up. I wanted to teach people the sports that saved my life and actually give them the tools and resources to use them as therapy.”

The Climber: A Diehard Story Bing Videos

Kirstie Ennis is someone to be admired, but she is too humble to realize the impact she makes on the world at large. It started with her willingness to serve our country at the age of 17, her drive to find one of the toughest fields in the United States Marine Corps for women and the dedication she put forth to earn the rank of Sergeant.

Unfortunately, Kirstie suffered severe injuries when her helicopter crashed on her second tour in Afghanistan and she was forced into medical retirement due to the physical injuries she sustained. This was where she faced her defining moment, she could succumb to the injuries or she could fight to find her place in the world again. She has been fighting ever since.

Kirstie Ennis Foundation | Healing in the outdoors through recreational therapy

Kirstie found healing in the outdoors through sports and wanted to share that with others. This prompted her to start a nonprofit organization and bring the healing of outdoor recreation and nature to those in need. She found a way to be of service again, she has created a community, to give people hope, and a reason to show up. She has done that through The Kirstie Ennis Foundation.

Through TKEF Kirstie has held 25 recreational clinics bringing snowboarding to women veterans, rock climbing to amputees, mountain biking to amputees and veterans, adaptive off-roading to a childhood cancer survivor, Sit-Ski lessons to paralyzed combat veterans, and the opportunity for many adaptive athletes to climb the highest peaks in South America. Her nonprofit has a 92% IRS rating meaning .92 cents of every dollar donated goes towards the programming.

Kirstie is not in it for the money or fame, she is in it to make a difference and give others the tools and resources to use them as therapy.

Veteran Amputee Kirstie Ennis Prepares to Summit Everest – Guideposts

Since 2017, Kirstie has committed to her Climbing for a Cause initiative- climbing the highest peak on each of the seven continents while raising funds and awareness for charity. She has completed six of the seven peaks and inspires with every step as she has often been the first female above-knee amputee to do it. She has had two attempts on Everest, but has had to turn around for her and her team’s safety.

Kirstie Ennis was almost at the peak of Mount Everest, then turned back: NPR

Why a mountaineer chose to turn around just 200 meters from Mount Everest’s summit : NPR

She is vulnerable and open in sharing her experiences to show others that we can all face obstacles and struggle, but ultimately it is about our ability to keep taking the next step. Kirstie travels all over the country giving motivational talks and is endeared by so many because she is honest, open and her willingness to help anyone that crosses her path shines through.

She responds to every person that reaches out to her and leads with doing all she can to create opportunity and healing for everyone she meets. She has won several awards for her humanitarian work such as the Yolanda King Higher Ground Award at the King Center, an award for individuals who carry on the legacy and values of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

It isn’t just what she does for others, as admirable as that is, it is what she does for herself that sets the example for so many young women. Since joining the Marine Corps, she has earned several degrees and her doctorate in an effort to better herself. She became a firefighter to apply her knowledge and be of service in her community. Kirstie has competed as a Paralympic snowboarder and previously took fifth in the world in women’s snowboard cross and just earned two bronze medals in the Para Snowboard FIS World Cup last month. She sets the bar high for women but is humble in wanting to see other women, other amputees, other veterans standing where she has stood, and doing it better.

You can see her impact on truly anyone that her story finds. The people she has supported have made a difference in their own communities just from the light that Kirstie sparked. She has helped a female veteran create a nonprofit to help veterans in Arizona, others to build businesses all across the country. There is a new adaptive community in Nashville that she inspired because she taught a retired amputee Marine who needed a new purpose: adaptive rock climbing. She has become the hero of many young ladies who have faced adversities by writing handwritten notes of encouragement and support.

Jena Malone Honors Wounded Warrior Veteran Kirstie Ennis | 2024 National Memorial Day Concert (youtube.com)

She sets the example and many are following in her footsteps, but what is most admirable is that she does it all to make the world a better place, to inspire and show others they have what they need to persevere. That is the light we need to see in this world.

For speaking engagement inquiries visit-https://www.teamwass.com/speaker/kirstie-ennis/

Adventure Athlete, USMC Veteran
Adventure Athlete
https://www.kirstieennisfoundation.com
kirstie.ennis@yahoo.com

Kirstie Ennis’s story may have begun when she lost her leg after her helicopter went down in Afghanistan, but it certainly doesn’t end there. After 48 surgeries and the amputation of her leg first below and then above the knee after a life-threatening infection, the former Marine Sergeant has accomplished more at 32 years old than most people have achieved in their lifetimes.

Ennis enlisted in the Marine Corps when she was only 17 years old, inspired by her parents who were also Marines. Ennis has turned the concept of “disabled athlete” on its head, proving how capable she still is, whether it’s on one leg or two. She hopes to complete the Seven Summits by climbing the highest peak on every continent by 2023 to fundraise and raise awareness for a variety of causes.

What people might not know about Ennis: she’s completed three Master’s degrees and is currently working to complete her Doctorate in Education. Kirstie is the President and Founder of The Kirstie Ennis Foundation, an Ambassador and program lead for the nonprofit Building Homes for Heroes and sits on the board of directors for Merging Vets and Players. She has invested in several small startup businesses ranging from hair salons, cross fit gyms, and restaurants. She also earned her license as a real estate advisor and is based at Engel & Volkers in Carbondale, Colorado.

After returning home from Everest in summer of 2019, Kirstie was the ESPY’s Pat Tillman Award recipient. She received the 2020 Higher Ground award at the Martin Luther King Family Salute to Greatness gala and is the youngest inductee ever into the International Sports Hall of Fame.

Kirstie Ennis, a remarkable USMC Veteran and adventure athlete, was a speaker at TEDxReno. Her inspiring journey began with a tragic helicopter accident in Afghanistan, which led to the loss of her leg. Despite this, she has achieved incredible feats, including climbing the highest peaks on every continent to raise awareness and funds for various causes 1. Kirstie’s story is one of resilience and determination, as she has not only overcome physical challenges but also excelled academically, completing three Master’s degrees and working towards a Doctorate in Education 1.

At TEDxReno, Kirstie shared her experiences and insights, undoubtedly leaving a lasting impact on the audience. The event, themed DISRUPTION, took place on April 6, 2024, and featured a variety of thought leaders and entertainers who are making significant changes in the world 2. Kirstie Ennis is also the President and Founder of The Kirstie Ennis Foundation and holds positions with other notable organizations, showcasing her commitment to supporting veterans and others facing disabilities 1.