Cadets, staff to volunteer at 'Race for the Cure'

  • Published
  • By Don Branum
  • Air Force Academy Public Affairs
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  More than 100 Air Force Academy cadets and staff members will take part as volunteers and runners for Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure events Saturday and Sunday at Garden of the Gods Park in western Colorado Springs.

Academy volunteers, organized primarily through Cadet Squadron 11, comprise roughly one fourth of the total volunteer numbers for this year's event, said Sharon Owen, the Race for the Cure chairwoman.

"These cadets are integral to our operation on Saturday and Sunday," said Owen, a 1986 Academy graduate. "They're so professional, so nice. Everyone loves to have cadets on their volunteer teams."

Cadet 1st Class Kelsey Garcia and Cadet 2nd Class Loyd Bradley are the cadets in charge for the Academy's volunteer efforts. Bradley manages the project, with Garcia working in an advisory role.

Bradley said he became involved after researching the Southeast Colorado Susan G. Komen affiliate.

"I read about what it stood for and where the money went. I told Kelsey I'd definitely be interested if she was willing to work with me," said Bradley, a native of Arlington, Texas.

Garcia managed the cadet volunteer effort in 2011, helping the affiliate to raise more than $168,000 for 2012 grants and education programs, according to the affiliate's Facebook page.

"I was involved with Relay For Life in high school," said Garcia, who is originally from Key Largo, Fla. "It's a similar organization. A few of our family friends were affected, and that's how we got involved."

Cadets will work at this year's race from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday and from 4:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sunday.

The Race for the Cure consists of three events. Registering for any of the three allows donors to participate in the race on Sunday.

The first event, held in Rock Ledge Ranch Saturday at 2 p.m., is "Pooches in Pink." Sue Christensen, the special plans and events specialist for the Academy's Plans, Programs and Institutional Events Directorate, is the chairwoman for that event.

"This is an event for people who don't want to get up early for the 5k run or who would just like to enjoy a leisurely walk with their pets," Christensen said. "It's a chance to bring their sociable dogs out."

The Academy's 10th Security Forces Squadron will offer a military working dog demonstration, and dogs from the National Mill Dog Rescue in Peyton, Colo., will participate in a canine fashion show, Christensen said.

"It's a nice event in that it supports Susan G. Komen and also gets rescue dogs adopted," she said.

A "Sleep-in for the Cure" allows donors to participate in the fund-raising portion of the event without having to get out of bed early for the race.

The 5k race begins Sunday at 8 a.m., with a 5k walk starting at 8:20 a.m. and a 1k family walk at 8:45 a.m. All races will be self-timed. Race officials will present awards to the top male, top female and top survivor finishers in the 5k run. Sunday events will also include a breakfast and a tribute to breast cancer survivors.

Registration starts at $30 per adult, $15 per child ages 5-15 and $10 per dog for the Pooches in Pink event. Those who wish to participate may register online at http://www.komensecolorado.org/register or in person at Garden of the Gods on race day beginning at 5:30 a.m.

The Southeast Colorado Komen affiliate raised about $400,000 last year for grants and research programs, $300,000 of which went to organizations in El Paso, Teller and Pueblo counties that are devoted to preventing, fighting and educating people about breast cancer. The remaining $100,000 contributed to national-level breast cancer research, Owen said. The list of current grant recipients is available online at http://www.komensecolorado.org/grants/current-grant-recipients.