CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A worldwide Double Dutch club is empowering women 40 and older with living their best and healthiest lives. 

The 40+ Double Dutch Club provides a space for women to engage in activities they enjoyed as kids, like double dutch, hopscotch and hula-hooping. 

Members wear shirts displaying their names and ages, all while bonding in a playful environment. 

The Double Dutch organization first launched in Chicago in May 2016. 

Founder Pamela Robinson says she started the club while going through a difficult period in her life. 

"I was really sinking into a depression," Robinson said. "I had been a stay-at-home wife and mother for almost 20 years. My marriage was coming to an end. Two of my children were grown and out of the house, my youngest was finishing up high school, so my kids didn't need me the same way they had in the past. I felt like I didn't have a purpose. I needed to find a happy place. It was difficult for me to wake up every morning because I didn't feel like I had anything to look forward to. I didn't have anything to smile about. I needed [to smile again]."

Robinson then visited a close friend, Catrina, requesting they double dutch like they did when they were kids.

"When you're jumping rope it makes you forget about everything else that's going on, even if just for that time you're jumping. Even if we just jump for 30 minutes, that means I'm getting a break from adulting, and that's what I needed at the time," Robinson said.

Robinson and Catrina decided to host a meet-up with five other ladies who had an interest in jump roping again. 

"That's how it started," Robinson said.

There are now over 100 subclubs for the 40+ Double Dutch Club, including in Germany, Canada and Israel.

Robinson says a 40+ Double Dutch Club documentary, "Beyond the Ropes," is in the works, spotlighting the sisterhood and club's journey. 

Robinson says any woman over the age of 40 is invited to join a subclub. 

"We can teach you how to jump if you're willing to learn," Robinson said. "If you come out, you will benefit from connecting with these women. Women can get together and do positive things. There is no drama, it's all about empowering each other through the sisterhoods and bonds being created. We just happen to be playing while we're doing it. God used my pain, turned it into purpose. Now all these women are connected."

There are several double dutch subclubs in North Carolina, including Greensboro, Raleigh/Durham, Clayton/Garner and south Charlotte. 

Michelle Joshua, 57, is captain of the North Charlotte-Concord subclub.

Joshua, a nurse practitioner, also serves as the delegate for the North and South Carolina subclubs and the club's health and wellness ambassador. 

Her group meets on Sundays at the West Cabarrus YMCA in Concord, from 2:30 p.m. until 4 p.m. 

Joshua first learned about the 40+ Double Dutch Club at a time when she wanted to start a similar ministry for her church. 

"I attended a church cookout in May 2019 for the graduates," Joshua said. "While I was there, I noticed the smaller children sitting around, playing on their phones, doing what today's children do, which is not very active. I started to think back when I used to go back to church functions. Growing up in New York City, we were always jumping double dutch, skipping rope, playing hopscotch, just having fun. I decided to teach a couple young girls at my church how to double dutch." 

Joshua says a group of church members, women 40 and up, assisted with teaching the young children how to double dutch. This motivated Joshua to try and start a double dutch church ministry for women her age range. 

"I went online to see if there were any other groups doing what we were doing," Joshua said. "Up pops 40+ Double Dutch Club [in Chicago]. This group was completely ready and looking for women in other cities to start subclubs. I contacted Robinson right away. That's how we got started."

Joshua says life after 40 comes with many life-changing experiences. She says the group is supporting women with getting through it all. 

"For many of us, being at this age and point in our lives, we've gone through many challenges," Joshua said. "Sometimes the challenge of raising children, sometimes the challenges of not having had any children, challenges with relationships, husbands, etc. Many of us found ourselves and find ourselves as women over 40 constantly pouring out to our family members, children, spouses and we often neglect ourselves and our own health." 

Joshua says the subclub is helping the women to become stronger and healthier, both mentally and physically. 

"We all know mental health is very important, there's a lot of stress going around. This is a way for us to be mentally healthy as well as physically. We look forward to this every week. I cannot tell you how countless women come through this subclub call me, outside of Sundays as well. We're here to support and comfort one another. This is a fellowship for them as well. We chose Sundays because it's the beginning of the week, after church, where we're all getting our week together. We've forged friendships through this organization," Joshua said. 

The club also participates in "spread the love" events to help meet the needs of the community. 

Joshua says there are over 140 members in the North Charlotte-Concord subclub.

Joshua also says they're preparing to launch a double dutch performance team in the near future.

"We want to showcase those skills so when anyone in the community wants us to come out and do a performance, we're performance ready," Joshua said. 

The 40+ Double Dutch Club will be hosting the Carolinas Regional Big Jump on Sept. 16 at The Barn at Frank Liske Park from 3:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Over 250 members are expected to travel to Concord for the event. 

Any women interested in becoming a 40+ Double Dutch Club member must be 40 years of age or older. You'll be required to purchase a personalized T-shirt that showcases your name and age.