Photo By 1st Lt. Michael Needham | Soldiers deployed to Camp Buehring, Kuwait, participate in the “Never Quit”...... read more read more
CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – Sand and wind beat across their faces as the crowd gathered in a common area just in front of the stage. Normally you might see someone walking backward into the wind as fast as possible trying to get to cover to keep the sand out of their eyes and mouth.
Yet a highly energetic and enthusiastic crowd of more than 3,000 participants, mostly Soldiers, gathered at Camp Buehring on April 18 for 5k/10k runs. With a theme like “Never Quit,” rescheduling the run due to harsh weather conditions was not an option.
“Only Soldiers would gather together for a ‘fun run’ in these weather conditions,” exclaimed one participant.
The 5k/10k event was hosted by the Never Quit Foundation and the United Services Organization. The Never Quit Foundation promotes healthy living, support for the armed forces, and a “Never Quit” approach to life, according to its website.
The run was originally inspired by the life of former U.S. Navy Capt. Gerard Petroni. After an extended period of not being able to communicate, due to a stroke, Petroni was asked if he could write anything on a piece of paper, what would it be? It took him some time to write what appeared to be a few words but he managed to write down the words “Never Quit” on a piece of paper.
Each individual runner chose to run, or “Never Quit,” for someone or something, which was then printed on his runner’s bib. Many chose to run for their families, some chose to run for their fellow Soldiers and others simply for themselves.
As the 3,000 plus runners crossed the starting line some carried U.S. flags, some their unit’s colors, but all of them undoubtedly carried with them the causes or people they were running for.
“Everybody is running for someone,” said Spc. Shannon Gainey of the 185th Theater Aviation Brigade, an Army National Guard unit based at Camp Beuhring. “We’re all making sacrifices but we also forget that (our family and loved ones) are making sacrifices just as big as us.”
| Date Taken: | 04.18.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 04.23.2015 06:55 |
| Story ID: | 160936 |
| Location: | CAMP BUEHRING, KW |
| Hometown: | PONTOTOC, MS, US |
| Web Views: | 268 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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