BOILING
SPRINGS, N.C. - Runners of several counties are invited to
participate in the inaugural "50 to 50 Military Appreciation Relay
Run" event on Saturday, Oct. 5. The relay involves a series of
runners transporting the Gardner-Webb vs. Charlotte game ball for
the football matchup from Boiling Springs to Charlotte (nearly 60
miles). The event is in conjunction with Military Appreciation Day
at UNC Charlotte, and is a joint effort by the adjoined ROTC
programs at GWU and UNCC (which includes the Military Science and
Aerospace Studies Departments - Army and Air Force).
The
relay begins inside GWU's Spangler Stadium on the 50-yard line at
4:15 a.m. with a moment of silence for fallen heroes of the United
States Armed Forces. That will be followed by a 75-mm Howitzer
cannon salute. The first runner will then leave Spangler Stadium
and begins the route to Jerry Richardson Stadium. The final runner
of the relay will be responsible for delivering the football to the
game officials prior to the 12:00 noon kickoff.
Approximately
the first 20 miles of the run will take place inside Cleveland
County and will feature GWU and community participants, while the
remaining 40 miles will consist of UNC-Charlotte representatives. A
number of GWU ROTC cadets will take part in the relay, and an
invitation is open to GWU faculty, staff, students, and the general
public who would like to take part. Each runner will race a
one-mile segment of the relay, before turning over duties to the
next runner.
Donne
DeVaughn, master sergeant and military service instructor for the
ROTC program at Gardner-Webb hopes this new tradition for both
universities will become much more than just a fun
occasion.
"I'm
really excited and the cadets are looking forward to it," said
DeVaughn. "I also want the relay and appreciation day to uphold
army values that a solider honors in accordance with our creed.
Never quit. Never accept defeat. Never leave a fallen
comrade."
Plans
are for the "50 to 50 Relay" to become even more than an event
honoring the military. Hopes are for it to transition into a
fundraising event for wounded warriors. If you would like to join
in the event contact DeVaughn by email no later than Tuesday, Oct.
1 at ddevaughn@gardner-webb.edu.
The
Runnin' Bulldogs football team is currently 3-1 on the season and
ranked 25th in the nation in the latest Sports Network FCS Top 25
Poll.
The
GWU vs. Charlotte football game will air live in WGWG 88.3 FM
(wgwg.org) and on WCCB-TV.
