Photo By Staff Sgt. Edward Garibay | Sergeant Audie Murphy Club members run with the SAMC flag around Stout Gym track, Fort...... read more read more
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FORT BLISS, Texas – “I have some family members that have passed away because of cancer, so being out here is something personal to me,” said a Sergeant Audie Murphy Club member describing the individual significance of her most recent volunteer experience.
Sgt. 1st Class Felisha L. Dodson from 212th Fires Brigade, 1st Armored Division, was just one of many SAMC members to join the fight against cancer and participate, June 29, 2012, in Fort Bliss’s annual Relay For Life, an American Cancer Society fund raising event in support of the fight against cancer and those affected by the disease.
During the relay, soldiers and family members, including those on the SAMC team, took turns circling the track at Stout Gym from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. the next day, while raising money, promoting cancer awareness and giving support to one another.
“I have two soldiers that are out here that are cancer survivors - it’s very inspiring for me,” said Sgt. 1st Class James C. Patrick, another SAMC member who participated. “It’s just very rewarding for me to be there for my soldiers.”
The support shown by the SAMC members and other participants was not without gratitude.
“I think it’s a blessing to have everyone bond and come together for this cause,” said Andrew Heard Jr., a retired first sergeant and cancer survivor. “I hope that through events like this we can eradicate all types of cancer.”
Even though this event made a difference and held a special significance for many on the SAMC team, volunteering in the community is not an uncommon thing for the club.
Volunteerism, helping others and displaying exceptional leadership is what SAMC is all about, said Patrick, an NCO with 2nd Bde., 1st AD, who dedicated more than 300 hours to community service last year.
What makes the club even more remarkable is that it spans Army wide, so NCOs can make a difference wherever they go. In fact, Dodson, a SAMC member since 2002, actively sought out volunteer opportunities such as Relay For Life, even though she recently arrived at Ft. Bliss from her previous duty station.
Relay For Life was the perfect way to start her volunteerism in El Paso, Texas, she said. It encompassed all of the things SAMC is about.
“Soldiers should be able to see their leaders doing things for the community,” said James, a 7-year member to the club. “If we all come together like this, we will actually make Ft. Bliss a stronger community.”
For more information about SAMC visit www.Facebook.com/BlissSAMC
For more information about Relay For Life visit www.RelayForLife.org
| Date Taken: | 06.29.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 07.10.2012 10:23 |
| Story ID: | 91319 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 46 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, SAMC members relay in the fight against Cancer, by SSG Edward Garibay, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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