Reservist recruiting Airmen to run Marine Corp Marathon

  • Published
  • By Capt. Marnee A.C. Losurdo
  • 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  A 512th Airlift Wing reservist is recruiting fellow Airmen to run with him in the 33rd Marine Corp Marathon Oct. 26 in Washington D.C.

Master Sgt. Mitchell Coffey, 709th Airlift Squadron flight engineer, trained for the marathon last year and raised more than $1,200 for the Fisher House Foundation, a nonprofit organization and Combined Federal Campaign charity.

This year, he said he is looking for members to join him on his journey through the nation's capitol.

"The more the merrier," said the marathon runner who after five months of training wasn't able to make last year's race due unit mission requirements. However, he was able to adapt and overcome by running the 26 miles on the same day of the D.C. event, Oct. 28, at Rota Naval Air Station, Spain.

This will be the second time the 49-year-old mailman from Norfolk, Va., will run in the race, which is the fourth largest marathon in the United States and seventh largest in the world, according to the Marine Corp Marathon Web site.

Regardless if someone is a beginner or an experienced runner, by joining the team Airmen will stay in shape and raise money for a charity that assists fellow service members and their families, said Sergeant Coffey.

Because military members are stationed all over the world, they typically have to travel to another location to receive specialized medical care. To assists these individuals, The Fisher House has built 38 comfort homes near military and Veteran Administration medical centers, according to The Fisher House Web site. These temporary homes allow family members to be close to their loved ones who are hospitalized for an illness, disease or injury received from combat.

Those interested in joining Sergeant Coffey's 512th AW running team for the 2008 Marine Corp Marathon can contact him at flyingbean777@hotmail.com. Online registration for the 2008 Marine Corps Marathon opens at noon April 30, and the entry fee is $88. Military participants can register between April 1 and April 28 for a discounted rate of $80, according to the U.S. Marine Corp Marathon website.

For more information on the race, visit www.marinemarathon.com/Marine_Corps_Marathon.htm.