Air Force community holds fourth annual endurance relay

By Reginald Rogers
Paraglide

	Photo by Reginald Rogers/Paraglide Benjamin Quigley, of the 43rd Force Support Squadron, races around the Pope Air Force Base track while donning a protective mask and Soviet Union T-shirt during the fourth annual Pope Air Force Base Endurance relay, which took place Friday, at the base. Funds generated from the event will benefit the Air Force Assistance Fund.

More than 350 Airmen and a few Fort Bragg Soldiers converged on the Pope Air Force Base track in support of a prominent community mission. Then they ran.

Although it sounds unlikely for members of the world’s finest fighting force, under those circumstances, it was what they came to do.

The Soldiers and Airmen participated in Pope Air Force Base’s fourth annual 24-hour endurance run, a benefit for the Air Force Assistance Fund, which serves the same purpose as the Army’s Emergency Relief.

Air Force Lt. Chad Warner and a host of others organized this year’s race, which began at 9 a.m., April 29 and concluded at the same time the next day. Some of the participants competed as part of a team, while others participated individually to support the cause.

“It was very much a team effort,” Warner said. “I couldn’t have done it alone. This is actually my first year here and I was put in charge, so I had a lot of questions. Luckily, a lot of people who were here last year, came up, volunteered their time and said, ‘I did this last year, put me in charge and I’ll get it done for you.’”

Warner said the team effort even included his wife, who came up with the theme, “Running down a dream.”
“She thought it would look pretty cool and I took a gander and said, that makes sense, that’s basically what we’re doing here — trying to get money for the AFAF,” Warner said. “A lot of the success of the event came from outside help.”
He said they began planning the event more than two months ago and everything came together quickly.

“We’ve been signing people up for the last two or three weeks, but we’ve been planning it since January,” explained Matt Miller, who oversaw the registration process. “It’s one of those things that take a lot of organization and a lot of people to put it together.”

Miller said the event was planned to help raise money for the Air Force Assistance Fund, which benefits all Airmen.

“It’s just Airmen helping Airmen,” he said. “We raise money so that if you need to put tires on your car and you can’t afford it or if you have something happen, we help out our own.”
Those who participated did so for various reasons.

“It’s always a good thing to be part of anything challenging and at the same time physical because it helps get you away from the everyday workday,” said Thierry Etienne, of the base’s Civil Engineer Squadron. “To get out here and have fun within 24 hours. We can also eat a little and just be here for a day of fun.”

Some individual and team participants donned costumes to compete in the relay, which was divided into different categories of 12 and 24 hours. Regardless of what kind of attire they wore, they all ran for the same cause.

Later in the day on April 29, a small group of participants, who were not running at the time, took part in the ‘Strongest Airman Competition, which included several events to test their strength.

Some of the events included the 250-pound tire flip and a timed, relay event in which the participants loaded a wheelbarrow with loaded nine, five-gallon water cans and carried them to another location.

Friday morning, members of the Cape Fear Kiwanis Club held a pancake breakfast for the participants and spectators who remained at the track throughout the night.

Base commander Col. James Johnson addressed the participants and spectators at the end of the relay and thanked them for their participation and warned them to be careful leaving the location, as some of them had been awake for more than 24 hours.

“I believe you have all kept safety in mind,” Johnson said. “Continue to look for anyone that might need a ride and let’s help each other as wingmen. I need you to look each other in the eye as you go home. This whole thing would not be what it is if we lose someone going home.”
Johnson acknowledged that many of those in attendance competed as teams, but some also ran for their personal achievement.

“I think it was amazing,” Johnson said to the crowd of about 450 participants and spectators. “You think about the miles that were logged and they required some great physical strength. I really believe that it requires great mental strength to accomplish what you achieved today.
“Many of you have that great mental strength — that’s what makes you great Airmen,” Johnson continued. “So well done to those of you who competed and left it out here on the track, it was just amazing to watch. I know many of you were out here to achieve a personal goal and congratulations to those of you who achieved that.”