TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Have you signed up for the 9/11 Memorial Ruck and Run? Tinker’s fourth spiritual resilience run is set for Sept. 11 at 7 a.m. Events will launch Friday, Sept. 8 with a “Still in the Fight” luncheon starting at 11:30 at the base theater. Chief Master Sgt. Mark Hurst, command chief of the 552nd Air Control Wing, will be the keynote speaker.
This year’s theme, “Are you still in the fight?” seeks to encourage airmen to never give up; to never succumb to the fight. The war on terrorism continues. People face other conflicts and struggles in their personal lives as well. Fights against issues like sexual assaults, depression, suicidal thoughts, racism, sexism, medical conditions and hopelessness surround us. A service will be held at the chapel, focusing on the resiliency message “Still in the Fight.”
The entire Tinker community is joining forces with police and fire departments from the greater Oklahoma City area to affirm the sole objective: “We are still in the fight.” A high-energy event designed to strengthen the spiritual domain of airmen and their families.
72nd Air Base Wing Chaplain Lt. Col. Sammy Tucker hopes this year’s event not only brings a great turnout, but participants rally around the theme, which carries a superhero driving force. The chaplains’ spiritual message, which ultimately crafted the 2017 event, stems from Micah 7:8, “Though I fall, I will rise.”
The event has evolved from a smaller-scaled spiritual resilience run in 2015 with 450 participants to more than 1,000 individuals at last year’s event. The goal this year is 1,500. More importantly however, Tucker hopes participants take something tangible from the resilience run, leaving feeling reinvigorated and purposeful.
With the Air Base Wing headquarters’ moving into previous run routes, a new course has been designed for the 2017 event that starts at the chapel. Other ways to participate include holding up signs with inspiring messages and cheering on airmen, further bolstering that spiritual pillar as well as engaging with the Tinker community.
The event is still in need of some spare hands. If you’d like to volunteer, call the chapel at 734-8987. Packet pickup will be at the chapel leading up to the event as well: Sept. 7 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sept. 8 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and the day of the race will be available from 5:30 a.m.
Registration is free. Individuals and teams are encouraged to participate in both the ruck and run and the luncheon. The first 1,500 participants will receive a free swag bag with a themed dry-fit shirt, run coin and other promotional run items. To register for the event, visit www.tinker911@eventbrite.com.