Team readies to run Marine Corps marathon

  • Published
  • By Sarah Olaciregui
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  A group of five Airmen and one Soldier are preparing to run for the U.S. Marine Corps Marathon and 10K Oct. 28. But for these servicemembers, it's not just about completing a fitness goal; it's about helping other military members and their families.

The team, called the Minutemen Runners, is running the race for the Fisher House Foundation. The foundation provides support for military members and their families in times of need.

"Because members of the military and their families are stationed worldwide and must often travel great distances for specialized medical care, Fisher House Foundation donates 'comfort homes,' built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers," the website www.fisherhouse.org states. "These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful times - during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease or injury."

Annually, the Fisher House program serves more than 17,000 families, and have made available more than four million days of lodging to family members for free since the program originated in 1990, according to their website.

It's is the second year in a row that Senior Airman Dennis Cooke, from the 66th Medical Squadron Mental Health Flight, has competed in the marathon. This time around is a little more special for him because he will be running with someone who initially encouraged him to run for the charity a year ago, Army Lt. Col. Paul Garcia.

"I met Colonel Garcia on the plane ride home after last year's Air Force Marathon," said Cooke. "As we were talking about the different service marathons, a lady from Fisher House overheard us and asked if I would be interested in running for them in the Marine Corps Marathon."

Now a year later, the two still keep in touch and decided to run together.

Four other Airmen from Hanscom will be joining Cooke and Garcia. Senior Airman Michelina Bonavito and Airman 1st Class Thomas Membrino will run the 10K. Staff Sgt. Justin Beckett and 1st Lt. Mallory Morgan will run 26.2 miles.

"We all want to start the races together as a team," Cooke said.

Not only will the runners be running to help other servicemembers, but they will also get to experience the historical sites around Washington, D.C., and remember the many military members who came before them.

The 10K runners start in the streets of the nation's capital, run past the Pentagon and finish at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Rosslyn, Va. The marathon runners will capture a view of the Pentagon's Sept. 11 Memorial, pass the Korean and World War II Memorials and also finish at the Marine Corps War Memorial.

"This marathon is lot about camaraderie, but it's also symbolic," said Cooke. "Running by these memorials and running for the Fisher House keeps things in perspective. I appreciate the fact that I can run."

Although the team has already reached their fundraising goal, they want to make sure the message of the charity resonates with their supporters, especially since Hanscom is in the middle of the Combined Federal Campaign.

"The Boston Fisher House featured us on their website and my flag football team, which has no military affiliation, donated for this event," said Cooke. "We want people to know we're running for something bigger than ourselves."

To learn more about the Minutemen Runners and the Fisher House Foundation, visit www.active.com/donate/FisherHouse2012MCM/theminutemen.