TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Education entities on base came together to raise awareness and research funds for the second most common cause of death in the U.S. – cancer.
The Embry-Riddle Flying Buccaneers relay team was the combined efforts of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Tyndall campus and the base’s Airman Leadership School. Together, more than 50 people walked over 260 miles and raised over $1,400 for cancer research during the Relay For Life of Greater Panama City April 30.
Staff Sgts. Joshua Henry and Jordan Fuller, 325th Force Support Squadron Airman Leadership School instructors, and Master Sgt. Derrick Bennett, 325th FSS ALS commandant, all have family members who were directly affected by cancer. These Airmen decided to walk the entire event, 12 hours, 31 miles each.
“I think everyone is affected by cancer in one way or another,” Fuller said. “We had a pretty personal tie to this, and we just wanted to show our support to getting cancer victims the help they need and research for that. My grandmother battled cancer for the last 10 years. Two weeks before the walk she passed away. So walking the whole thing was in remembrance of her.”
Henry’s mother is a stage III breast cancer survivor who is going through chemotherapy now, and supported Fuller when he had the idea of walking the entire event.
“When Fuller said he was going to attempt to walk the entire 12 hours, I figured I would go out and walk with him as much as I could. I thought I would stay a couple of hours, but when we were six hours in, I was like, ‘Well, we’ve already went halfway, we might as well finish it.’”
Along with their instructors, all 40 of the ALS students participated in the event, walking one or more hour-long shifts. They carried an American flag with them on the track, keeping it moving the entire time.
“They were really inspirational,” said Heather Weekley Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University assistant campus director. “They really kept the team alive and going strong. We had numerous individuals come up to us just wanting to hear their stories.”
The team was so inspirational that they won several awards including the Heart of Relay Award, which is given to the team that embodies the spirit of what the relay is all about.
The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life is an organized, overnight community fundraising walk. Each year, more than 4 million people in over 20 countries raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer through the Relay For Life movement, according to the cancer society’s website.
“I think more people should participate in events for causes that affect them,” Henry said. “It doesn’t matter what event it is, just support the cause. Nothing changes just because you want it to change. You have to actually do something about it.”