thedrifter
01-14-09, 06:17 AM
Great Aloha Run invites service members to show off cadence, esprit de corps for good cause
1/13/2009 By Lance Cpl. Cristina Noelia Gil , Marine Forces Pacific
HONOLULU — Thousands of people are expected to come together Feb. 16 to make an 8.15 mile trek for the 2009 Hawaiian Telcom Great Aloha Run, one of Hawaii’s top participation races, which benefits organizations across the island.
This year, the race’s directors want to see an increase in the number of Marines participating in the Sounds of Freedom division, where service members from all military branches are invited to run in formation and share their cadence.
The Sounds of Freedom competition centers on a unit’s ability to closely estimate their race completion time intact, esprit de corps and uniformity.
“Last year we only had 22 Marines participate (in the Sounds of Freedom division) but, we would like to re-establish what they brought to the race in our early years,” said Carole Kai, president of the Great Aloha Run.
In the second year of the Great Aloha Run, Col. Antonio Betta, then serving at U.S. Marine Corps Base Hawaii – Kaneohe Bay, led 500 of his Marines along the course in full combat gear, which was the start of the military community’s involvement in the race.
“Year after year the Marines came back and since then, Marines have been an integral part of our race,” Kai said.
The race, now in its 25th year, begins at the Aloha Tower in downtown Honolulu and leads runners along the Honolulu Harbor, ending at the Aloha Stadium. The ultimate goal of the run is to bring in funds to help charitable organizations and people in need.
“We exist only to help Hawaii’s communities and our military,” Kai said.
Over the years, the organization has distributed more than $7.6 million to more than 150 charities, including
high school athletic programs and several health causes. It also benefits military Morale Welfare and Recreation programs.
For every Department of Defense member who participates in the race, regardless of participation in the Sounds of Freedom division, $1 will be donated to their branch of service’s MWR in Hawaii. This includes active- duty service members, DoD civilians and their children and spouses.
More than $350,000 have gone to military MWR programs throughout the years of the race.
Kai and the race’s board of directors have been generous supporters of the military. In 2005 when MCBH lost 25 of its Marines in a helicopter crash in Iraq, the organization stepped in to help. Along with the MWR funds they allocated for the Marines, an additional $5,000 were given to the Marine Corps to fund any needs that resulted from the tragedy.
“That is what our organization does, because we want to. It impacted our community, and it was the right thing to do,” Kai said. “We invite our service members to come on out so we can continue to give back to them for everything they do.”
For more information on the GAR or to sign up a team for the Sounds of Freedom run, you can find the necessary forms on the MarForPac website at www.mfp.usmc.mil or you can visit the official race website at www.greataloharun.com. Entry forms can be picked up at the Camp Smith Semper Fit Center.
Ellie
1/13/2009 By Lance Cpl. Cristina Noelia Gil , Marine Forces Pacific
HONOLULU — Thousands of people are expected to come together Feb. 16 to make an 8.15 mile trek for the 2009 Hawaiian Telcom Great Aloha Run, one of Hawaii’s top participation races, which benefits organizations across the island.
This year, the race’s directors want to see an increase in the number of Marines participating in the Sounds of Freedom division, where service members from all military branches are invited to run in formation and share their cadence.
The Sounds of Freedom competition centers on a unit’s ability to closely estimate their race completion time intact, esprit de corps and uniformity.
“Last year we only had 22 Marines participate (in the Sounds of Freedom division) but, we would like to re-establish what they brought to the race in our early years,” said Carole Kai, president of the Great Aloha Run.
In the second year of the Great Aloha Run, Col. Antonio Betta, then serving at U.S. Marine Corps Base Hawaii – Kaneohe Bay, led 500 of his Marines along the course in full combat gear, which was the start of the military community’s involvement in the race.
“Year after year the Marines came back and since then, Marines have been an integral part of our race,” Kai said.
The race, now in its 25th year, begins at the Aloha Tower in downtown Honolulu and leads runners along the Honolulu Harbor, ending at the Aloha Stadium. The ultimate goal of the run is to bring in funds to help charitable organizations and people in need.
“We exist only to help Hawaii’s communities and our military,” Kai said.
Over the years, the organization has distributed more than $7.6 million to more than 150 charities, including
high school athletic programs and several health causes. It also benefits military Morale Welfare and Recreation programs.
For every Department of Defense member who participates in the race, regardless of participation in the Sounds of Freedom division, $1 will be donated to their branch of service’s MWR in Hawaii. This includes active- duty service members, DoD civilians and their children and spouses.
More than $350,000 have gone to military MWR programs throughout the years of the race.
Kai and the race’s board of directors have been generous supporters of the military. In 2005 when MCBH lost 25 of its Marines in a helicopter crash in Iraq, the organization stepped in to help. Along with the MWR funds they allocated for the Marines, an additional $5,000 were given to the Marine Corps to fund any needs that resulted from the tragedy.
“That is what our organization does, because we want to. It impacted our community, and it was the right thing to do,” Kai said. “We invite our service members to come on out so we can continue to give back to them for everything they do.”
For more information on the GAR or to sign up a team for the Sounds of Freedom run, you can find the necessary forms on the MarForPac website at www.mfp.usmc.mil or you can visit the official race website at www.greataloharun.com. Entry forms can be picked up at the Camp Smith Semper Fit Center.
Ellie