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Kadena fun run provides relief to Minot flood victims

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Christopher Hummel
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  No stranger to water-related emergencies, Team Kadena gathered at the Risner Fitness Center today for a 5k fundraiser to help Airmen and their families affected by recent flooding at Minot Air Force Base, N.D.

More than 130 Shogun Warriors traversed the 3.1-mile course in a show of support for their fellow blue-suiters of the 5th Bombing Wing and 91st Missile Wing.

"This run meant a lot to me," said Senior Airman Mary Fawcett, a member of the 18th Dental Squadron and first-place finisher in the women's category. "I just returned from a deployment to Iraq where I was stationed with a lot of Airmen from Minot. They returned to a home damaged by this flood."

Though initially delayed due to a no-notice Operational Readiness Inspection, the 13-member coordination team led by Tech. Sgt. Kevin Brown of the 82nd Reconnaissance Squadron helped participants follow through with their desire to lend a hand.

"We started planning the event in June during the height of their emergency," said Brown. "Our [Kadena] 56 group contacted the First Sergeant's council at Minot AFB to offer our assistance."

In what was called a "hundred-year flood," more than 10,000 residents of the town as well as nearly 1,000 Airmen were displaced by record flooding.

Local North Dakotans and Minot Airmen weren't the only people impacted by the disaster. In an announcement June 27, Air Force officials halted all moves to Minot - a decision that has yet to be rescinded.

When the last runner crossed the finish line, Brown announced that $2,000 had been raised. After finalizing coordination with Minot's Operation Warm-Heart, all money raised will be mailed off immediately.

"The funds we were able to raise today will hopefully be able to replace things lost in the flood," said Tech. Sgt. Saquadrea Crosby, another event coordinator from the 18th Aerospace Medical Squadron. "Maybe some of the money can be used to purchase supplies for school, which is just about to start over there."