Southwest Asia --
“Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in
the attempt” is the Special Olympics athlete oath.
Senior Airman Zach White, a 332nd Expeditionary
Civil Engineer firetruck operator and truck engineer, is doing what he can to
live up to the idea behind the oath. During his deployment to Southwest Asia he
dedicated his off-duty time to running 150 miles with the goal of raising
$2,500 to sponsor an athlete for the 2017 Special Olympics.
“If you have
ever been around someone who has an intellectual disability, the joy, the happiness
and the innocence they display, it makes you realize how we overlook a lot of
things in life and it brings you back to the basics that there is a whole lot
more to be happy about than what we look at every day,” said White.
Intellectual disability is a term used when a person
has certain limitations in cognitive functioning and skills, to include
communication, social and self-care skills.
White’s inspiration to aid the Special Olympics in
their efforts ignited on a previous deployment.
“I was put on shift with Jeff, who is now one of my
best friends,” said White. “We worked out every day, hung out during and after
shift and he has a brother who has an intellectual disability.”
Through Jeff’s friendship, White got to know Kyle,
Jeff’s 20-year-old brother. White would communicate with Kyle through Jeff and
quickly became friends with Kyle. Even though White and Kyle never met, they
shared a deep connection. Kyle affectionately refers to White as his Southern
brother.
In January 2015, White traveled to see Jeff and meet
Kyle, finally putting a face to the name.
“I got to meet Kyle and spend time with him,” said
White. “Just being around him affected me tremendously and he showed me what it’s
really like to be a person with an intellectual disability. Someone who can’t
read, can’t do math, has all these adversities, but is still happy. It’s so
genuine. He knows what it is to love, have friendships and experience life. He
made me want to bring to light the organizations out there to help individuals
like Kyle to push through and go further.”
While White prepared for his current deployment, he
began planning ways to aid not just Kyle, but other athletes as well.
The Special Olympics provides year-round sports
training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for
children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The organization also aids
with healthcare, raises awareness about the abilities of people with
intellectual disabilities, leads the world in researching and addressing
concerns and provides a leadership program to mold future leaders and
spokespeople.
“It started with downloading an app, which was going
to donate 25 cents a mile to the Special Olympics for every mile I ran,” said
White. “I figured it would be approximately $40 by the time I got done. While
every little bit helps, I knew I could do so much better than that.”
Haley, White’s girlfriend, jumped onboard and
suggested he start a GoFundMe account and a Facebook page to encourage others
to join the cause.
White wasn’t looking to do just the minimum. For
him, the way he raised money and awareness was important. He wanted to put in
the work, just as the athletes do day in and day out.
“Running is a challenge for me,” said White. “Running
is not easy. I have never enjoyed it. I really wanted it to be a challenge for
me, just as some tasks are for someone who has an intellectual disability, and
not take the easy way out. It wouldn’t mean as much to me if I didn’t have to
work my butt off to do it.”
After working a 24-hour shift, White laces up his
shoes and logs his miles. While being deployed, he faces more obstacles, such
as scorching temperatures well over 120 degrees during the day and overnight
temperatures not dropping below 100.
“In a deployed location, we all know things get
tough and people are at home missing families and to have an Airman come in and
be that happy and that positive and to do what he is doing for the Special
Olympics, and still have that drive at work, is unparalleled,” said Tech. Sgt.
Chris Richardson, a 332nd ECES crew chief and captain crash fire rescue
company.
No matter how blistering the heat becomes, no matter
how strenuous work was the previous night or how sore he is from a run, White
continues to lace up his shoes and sets off putting one foot in front of the
other.
“When I am running, I am not thinking about anything
else other than why I am doing it,” says White. “Thinking about the happy faces
and the joy that I know this is going to bring someone; that’s what keeps me
going. I just keep thinking about that person we’re going to be able to sponsor
for the 2017 Special Olympics and it makes every step worth it.”
Editor’s note: To follow Senior Airman Zach White’s
journey, checkout his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/zachs150miles?__mref=message_bubble