Photo By Sgt. Abbey Perria | Pfc. Chopper V, the official III Marine Expeditionary Force Band mascot, participated...... read more read more
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CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa - For most people, when they wear a white shirt, the goal is to keep it clean and stain-free for the day, but this was not the case for runners and volunteers at the Autism Awareness Color Run.
The Exceptional Family Member Program hosted a 5-kilometer color run to raise awareness for autism spectrum disorder May 31 near the Foster Fieldhouse on Camp Foster.
ASD is a general term for a group of complex brain development disorders that are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behavior.
This was EFMP’s fourth annual run for autism awareness on Camp Foster, but their first color run. More than 215 volunteers and 1,500 runners participated to raise awareness of ASD. Along with EFMP, the Single Marine Program, U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa and Marine Corps Community Services promoted and coordinated the event.
“The surrounding community really stepped up to make this event successful,” said Marcela Moody, the EFMP manager for Okinawa. “We had an overwhelming amount of participation, so we needed a lot of help, and we got it.”
Instead of a traditional bang, the official start of the race was signaled by runners throwing colored powder at each other, and puffs of pink, purple and orange filled the air and turned white shirts into multicolored canvases.
During the race, volunteers threw powder at each 1-kilometer checkpoint to create colorful clouds, so runners earned an extra coating of color the farther they ran.
“There was camaraderie between people to get together, throw color on each other and have as much fun as they can,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Remi Ghattas, a participant in the event and a hospital corpsman with 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.
As runners rounded the final corner toward the finish line, they ran through an exceptionally large amount of powder that turned the asphalt light blue by the end of the event.
“It was good to see smiling faces of friends and family, enjoying their Saturday morning together,” said Moody, a Panama City, Panama, native. “By the look on people’s faces, you can tell they think the run was awesome.”
Along with organizing runs for awareness, EFMP supports service members caring for children with behavioral, cognitive and developmental challenges or medical ailments.
“If I have questions, need someone to talk to, or want educational tools, I go to my case worker and they help me with anything to give support,” said Sheila McKoy, a participant and mother of 5-year-old son Semaj, who was diagnosed with autism last year.
EFMP helps families receive unique services, including special medical, dental, mental health, developmental or educational support, wheelchair accessibility, adaptive equipment and assistive technology devices and services.
“It’s hard to have a son with autism; he’s high functioning, but can still talk to me,” said McKoy, a Philadelphia, Pa., native. “Though he can’t express himself well, I don’t think autism is a disability, but a different ability.”
Whether or not they knew someone with ASD, participants and volunteers attended to support the cause and get splashed with color.
“I love doing 5Ks and supporting causes,” said Ghattas, a Morton Grove, Ill., native. “I would do this again in a heartbeat.”
| Date Taken: | 05.31.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.03.2014 04:25 |
| Story ID: | 131885 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 220 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Ready, set, throw: EFMP hosts color run to raise autism awareness, by Sgt Abbey Perria, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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