Running For Fresh Air – An Observer Coach Trainer’s Initiative to Raise Money for the CDC during COVID-19

Photo By Spc. Ravenne Eschbach | U.S. Army Capt. Nicholas Fausnaugh, assigned to the Panthers Observer Coach Trainers Team at Joint Multinational Readiness Center, runs in a solo social distancing marathon to encourage others to raise funds for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emergency Response Fund at Hohenfels, Germany on April 22, 2020. The marathon is another method to battle against COVID-19 and keep the force strong. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Ravenne Eschbach)  

HOHENFELS, BY, GERMANY

04.22.2020

Story by Pfc. Ravenne Eschbach 

Joint Multinational Readiness Center

HOHENFELS, Germany – At the Joint Multinational Readiness Center everyone is doing their part to fight against COVID-19. Some can be seen conducting training and helping out around post while other soldiers are racing towards a greater cause.

“Last week I set a pledge to donate five dollars per mile that I ran in a solo social distancing marathon to encourage others to raise funds for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emergency Response Fund,” said Cpt. Nicholas Fausnaugh, an Observer Coach and Trainer on the Panther’s maneuver team.

Observer Coaches and Trainers provide instruction, guidance and feedback to units that come to train at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center. As an OC they are proficient in the training that they oversee in order to properly assist incoming units. During the recent COVID-19 attack they have had to shift focus to combating this new enemy.

“I’m doing the JMRC #FreshAirChallenge. That inspired me to get out and run more. I decided to go out for a long run and donate 5 dollars for every mile. I ended up running my first marathon,” said Fausnaugh. “Aside from my daily duties with the team I was talking to a lot of friends and family back home who were a lot more affected by COVID-19 as far as employment and economics. That’s what inspired me to do it and feel like I could help out in some kind of way.”

Fausnaugh expressed his interest in helping those more affected by COVID-19 than he was. He acknowledges that it is only a small portion of the population affected but those closest to it are in a much more serious situation. He claims to find his motivation for the challenge in his good fortune of being healthy and having the opportunity to stay healthy and get up for pt.

“There’s a lot of good trails to run on. There are many on post. I live out in Lupberg so I go out around Lupberg and Parsberg before turning back,” said Fausnaugh.

Signing up for the initiative and donating money is as simple as visiting the Facebook page set up for the event where links will give direction to donations and other information. The initiative ends on this Sunday April 26, 2020. Fausnaugh expresses that every little bit helps and that everyone should join together to fight this enemy.

• Date Taken: 04.22.2020
• Date Posted: 04.23.2020 10:59
• Story ID: 368209
• Location: HOHENFELS, BY, DE