Big Easy Run

Courtesy Photo | TIKRIT, Iraq -- Runners line up behind a fire engine moments before the start of the Big Easy 5K Run for Hurricane Relief, Oct. 16 at Forward Operating Base Speicher in Tikrit, Iraq. The run raised more than $6,000 for victims of Hurricane Katrina.  

TIKRIT, IRAQ

10.21.2005

Courtesy Story

22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment   

By Staff Sgt. Robert Timmons
22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, TIKRIT, Iraq -- While Iraqi citizens were helping themselves take a step forward to a representative government during the constitutional referendum, some U.S. Soldiers were helping those struck hard by Hurricane Katrina by donating time and money to the Big Easy 5K run held here Oct. 16.

"It is important because it shows solidarity," said Damian Gonzalez, a member of the Forward Operating Base Speicher Fire Department and overall winner of the race. "We saw it after 9/11 when we as Americans came together."

Gonzalez added that it was part of the relief and a way that those deployed to Iraq can help raise money.

Along with Gonzalez, 500 people signed up for the run and another 200 donated money to the relief, said 1st Lt. Alisha Ramsey, the event founder and coordinator. The event raised more than $6,200 for the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund.

"This is way beyond the money," said Ramsey a platoon leader with 578th Signal Company, 17th Signal Battalion based out of Darmstadt, Germany. "It is a symbol of who cared. It allowed everyone involved to release their stress and closed out their frustration."

Even though Soldiers were arriving and leaving Iraq, the race was planned to coincide with that transition to allow a maximum of participants.

"Soldiers are starting to redeploy," the California native said, "and a lot of stuff is going on. I wanted to act fast so the sooner they could get the money the better. A lot of new and old Soldiers were able to take part in the race because of the timing."

The race's roots laid in that besides donating money online, it is difficult for deployed Soldiers to help.

"Donating money online didn't help make me feel like I was contributing," she said. "If I could get 500 people to participate it would compound it 18-fold."

The overall second place finisher behind Gonzalez said it was a worthwhile cause he was more than happy to support.

"I like to run and it was a good cause," said Pfc. Michael Laforest, a laundry and textile specialist with 16th Quartermaster Company. This was the best way I could help those affected by the hurricane, he said.

While the run was overshadowed by the Iraqi referendum vote, Soldiers were very appreciative.

"Soldiers, who told me their houses were flooded by 18 inches of water and their pets survived because they climbed on top of something, have come up to me and said thank you," a visibly happy Ramsey said.

• Date Taken: 10.21.2005
• Date Posted: 10.21.2005 12:45
• Story ID: 3426
• Location: TIKRIT, IQ