Deployed Airmen take on a different enemy

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. William Farrow
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  The hum of C-130 Hercules resonated throughout a base at a forward-deployed location as the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing’s mission of putting boots on the ground in Iraq continued.

However, more than 300 Airmen took time from their duties to battle another enemy when they participated in a Relay for Life event.

Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society's signature activity offering everyone in a community a chance to participate in the fight against cancer. Teams complete laps for points while walking or running around a track or path. The Airmen at this forward-deployed location gathered on a street that also serves as a running track. Teams formed from units and service organizations, like the Airman and noncommissioned officer councils.

Many teams took the challenge seriously, running as many laps as they could during the allotted one-and-a-half hour relay. Other teams were not too serious about making time, but gathered points for “spirit” as they paraded around the track, sporting whatever costumes their imaginations and resources allowed them to put together.

The idea of having the event was the idea of Senior Airman Tom Breckel. Airman Breckel, whose brother works for the Central Ohio Chapter of the American Cancer Society, has lost grandparents to cancer. He said he thought it would be a good idea to provide the people deployed here a chance to have fun by getting involved in the relay. At the same time, he wanted to increase awareness of how deadly cancer can be.

“We are providing deployed members with several great opportunities to support the fight against cancer,” said Col. Sean Murphy, 386th Expeditionary Medical Group commander and the base Relay for Life honorary chairman.

“The committee worked with the American Cancer Society to create a mini-relay -- a bit different than what most folks are used to back home -- to allow them to participate. By doing this, we had ways for members to show their support for those engaged in their fight with cancer, as well as to remember those who have been lost to this dreaded disease.”

The mini-version was a way for deployed servicemembers to show their support, said Airman 1st Class Jennifer Anderson, one of the event coordinators.

“We see the casualty rates for our troops in Iraq, and when you are deployed, those numbers (have) special meaning,” she said. “But, when you hear numbers like 1,500 dead each day from cancer, it really grabs you.”

Each team had members on the track at all times during the event. Although the Relay for Life is usually an overnight event, for as long as 24 hours, because of the nature of the airlift mission here, the event was condensed to two hours.

In communities throughout America, a Relay for Life is normally used to solicit funds. Although money could not be raised because of Air Force restrictions on fundraising, Airman Breckel said the event was a success all the same.

“We couldn’t take pledges or raise money, but just the fact that people are aware that cancer is an enemy means our mission succeeded,” he said. “The team members shared a common purpose -- to support the American Cancer Society’s mission.”