Deployed firefighters raise money for families of fallen

Published Aug. 14, 2013
By Master Sgt Marelise Wood
386 Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Nineteen pull-ups, 19 push-ups, 19 burpees, a run that totaled almost four miles and nine obstacles were tackled by more than 150 people at the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, Aug. 10, to raise money for the 19 firefighters who died in the Yarnell Hill fire in Arizona, June 28.

Tech. Sgt. Stentsen Ellenburg, a fire station captain here, deployed from the 117th Air Refueling Wing, an Air National Guard unit in Birmingham, Ala., organized the event as a way to honor the fallen firefighters.

"My gym back home has a workout that's a five kilometer run with obstacles along the way," said Ellenburg. "I thought that would be something cool to do here [for exercise]. Then when the firefighters perished, with the support of my gym, I decided to do an adventure challenge type run to raise money."

Ellenburg worked with units here on base that provided assistance in making the obstacles and ensuring they were safe. A route was established and the event was publicized to the base.

To raise the money, T-shirts were purchased and sold to the runners with 2/3 of the purchase price going toward the cost of the shirt, and the remainder toward the donation.

"We initially ordered 100 shirts and sold out of those within the first two days," said Ellenburg. "So we moved it up to 150."

Demand for the T-shirts increased and by race day, more than 200 shirts had been ordered and more than $700 was raised. With such a great response, the initial goal of raising $500 was pushed up to $1000.

"I wanted to support this run because it hits close to home," said Master Sgt. Christopher Campbell, native of Phoenix, Ariz., deployed here from Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. "I have some property up in the Prescott area and once I heard this was going on I signed up right away. I also like showing support to our other service members, the men in blue; firefighters, border patrol and any other agency where its members are put in harm's way for the good of the American people."

When the dust had cleared, the goal was not only accomplished but exceeded. The adventure challenge raised more than $1000 that will be donated to the firefighters' memorial fund.