Seabees 'Race for the Cure' while Deployed to Afghanistan

Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11 participated in a "Race for the Cure" May 27, in the name of fighting breast cancer.

The battalion's First Class Petty Officers' Mess sponsored the 5k run, which generated more than $3,000 in donations for the cause. All proceeds went to support the education and research about causes, treatment, and the search for a cure for breast cancer.

Runners wore pink bracelets, pink ribbon decals, and pink stickers displaying various motivational words such as "love," "strength," and "hope" on their clothing to symbolize the fight against breast cancer.

Lt. j.g. Brian E. Myers, command chaplain, from New London, Conn., finished with the fastest overall time of 18 minutes and 18 seconds thus taking first place among males. Builder Constructionman Anna L. Parcher, from Jamestown, Pa. finished first among females with a time of 27 minutes and 45 seconds.

The race was coordinated by Legalman 1st Class Misty R. Masters, from Fond du Lac, Wis. According to Masters, the idea to raise awareness and money to combat breast cancer was born at one of NMCB-11's monthly Women's Wellness Council meetings.

"No one in my family has suffered from this disease," said Masters. "However, my best friend's family has had many struggles with breast cancer... you never know who may be affected."

Race volunteers handed out cold water and sports drinks to sweat drenched runners at various points along the race route.

Runners gathered to congratulate the winners following the race as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place certificates were presented in both male and female categories by Cmdr. Lore Aguayo, commanding officer of NMCB-11.

Homeported in Gulfport, Miss., NMCB-11 is deployed to Afghanistan to conduct general, mobility, survivability engineering operations, defensive operations, Afghan National Army partnering and detachment of units in combined/joint operations area - Afghanistan in order to enable the neutralization of the insurgency and support improved governance and stability operations.

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