Organizers are hoping that more than 1,000 U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and forces from other nations will hit the rocky roads of Bagram airfield in northeast Afghanistan on July 4 for the very first “Freedom Isn’t Free” charity 10k run.
Runners are asked to donate $15, for which they’ll get a pre-paid phone card and a race T-shirt. Proceeds will go to the Veterans of Foreign Wars for those who have been wounded or killed in operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Troops can participate and not donate, said the command sergeant major for the sponsoring unit, Logistics Task Force 725 Main Support Battalion, 1st Sgt. John Green. But donations are required to receive the prizes set for the top three finishers.
“With the run still a little over three weeks away, we currently have 217 signed up to participate, however the big push for registration started on the 7th of June, and we expect to meet our goal of 1,000 runners,” Green wrote in an e-mail to Stars and Stripes.
Military members and civilians will walk, run or put on rucksacks and march the route.
The 725 MSB is part of the 25th Infantry Division, based at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and provides tactical logistics for U.S. and coalition forces at Bagram airfield, and provides humanitarian assistance to the local woman’s center, school, village and orphanage.
Race numbers have been donated by Road Runner Sports, but the sponsoring unit is still seeking individual and corporate sponsorship in the form of prizes and monetary donations.
To learn more or to donate money or prizes to “Freedom Isn’t Free,” contact Schenley Green at (808) 753-0656 or Schenley1@hotmail.com, 1st Sgt. Green at Greenj@baf.afgn.army.mil or log onto www.deltadawgs.us
Checks and prizes can also be made payable to:
Freedom Isn’t Free LTF 725sent c/o1SG Green, John A.LTF 725 MSBAPO AE 09354
