10th CS Airman to run for good cause

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachel Hammes
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
A network administrator with the 10th Communications Squadron at the Academy will compete in the 2014 Air Force Marathon at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Sept. 20 to raise money for the Air Force Enlisted Village.

Airman 1st Class Dylan MacDermot is the only Academy representative scheduled to run in the marathon as a member of the 99-person Team Air Force Enlisted Village.

The marathon is an annual event involving more than 15,000 runners and 2,300 volunteers.

Along with the marathon, the base hosts a half marathon, a 10K and a 5K on the same day.

MacDermot is excited to be able to represent not only USAFA, but the Air Force Enlisted Village, a charitable organization dedicated to providing free housing to widows of retired Airmen.

Proceeds from Team AFEV's fundraising go toward expanding and updating housing facilities for widows of retired Air Force personnel.

"I think it's an honor for me to be able to do this, to be able to represent this organization," MacDermot said. "I didn't actually think I'd be able to do something like this, so I just want to prove to myself that I can."

MacDermot began training even more seriously since being nominated to run for Team AFEV.

"I'm probably running 4-5 times a week, varying from doing distance runs to doing sprints, and trying to go somewhere that's a bit hilly so I can condition properly," he said. "I have been running for probably seven years."

MacDermot cites his father, a half marathon runner, as his inspiration to start running seriously.

"I thought it sounded like a lot of fun to be able to run for such a long distance and not have to stop. So ever since that point, I started setting my sights for being a better distance runner."

Senior Master Sgt. Ernie Reyes, 10th CS superintendent mentored MacDermot throughout this process, in addition to having initially nominated him.

"I know that he's very hardworking and dedicated," said Reyes, who has joined MacDermot for several runs. "And he's definitely fit for it. He's one of the communications squadron's brightest young Airmen, so we wanted to showcase that as well - not just across USAFA, but to the Air Force."

MacDermot has set a personal fundraising goal for the Air Force Enlisted Village of $2,500, and hopes to raise money on and off base.

Visit www.atenlistedwidows.org/teamafev for more information.