Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Zane Craig | Col. Shawn Morrissey, commander of the 3rd Sustainment Brigade, and his command group...... read more read more
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – Nearly 1,000 service members and civilian contractors took part in the Paint the Town Pink 5k Run Friday, Oct. 22, 2010, at Holt Stadium on Joint Base Balad, Iraq, to mark breast cancer awareness month.
Capt. Alphonso Harrell, commander of the 512th Quartermaster Company, started the run last year when 1st Lt. Andrea Graham, a platoon leader in his unit, was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Harrell took the lead in coordinating the event here with its twin in Savannah, Ga., since he pitched the idea to Col. Shawn Morrissey, commander of the 3rd Sustainment Brigade in May.
Many participants ran in the name of someone afflicted with breast cancer and formally dedicated the run to them in a ceremony immediately following the event.
Julia Lewis of Hattiesburg, Miss., a cancer survivor and former soldier who participated in the run, said she was devastated and terrified when she received her diagnosis in 2006.
“I still have the fear that it will come back,” said Lewis of the cancer, which has been in remission since 2007.
“It made my life more intense. It made me focus more on helping others and brought me closer to God,” she said.
Lewis was not surprised by the large turnout because of the number of people who have had loved ones suffer from cancer.
“I think it is awesome that we had soldiers and contractors coming out here to support paint the town pink. Thank you for supporting breast cancer survivors,” she said.
“It was exciting to see all our work made worthwhile,” said Harrell, citing the large turnout and the fact that things ran smoothly.
The Paint the Town Pink 5k Run helped raise awareness of breast cancer among the JBB community and showed our solidarity with everyone affected by this terrible illness.
| Date Taken: | 10.22.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 10.26.2010 08:39 |
| Story ID: | 58829 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 156 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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