On Saturday, 7 March, members of Air Force ROTC and the
University of Minnesota community participated in a fundraiser for the Wounded
Warrior Project, called the Warrior Mile. The goal of the event was to raise
awareness and funds for WWP, an organization whose purpose is to raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of
injured service members, to help injured service members aid and assist each
other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of
injured service members. Teams and individuals each took up the challenge of
completing an entire mile of burpee broad jumps. At the end of the day, over
$1,000 were raised for WWP and nearly 50 people had completed at least
part of a mile of burpees.
This was actually the second year
Detachment 415 has hosted the Warrior Mile and I have been involved in the
planning and organizing both years. The event was started in the fall of 2013,
when a senior cadet and mentor of mine challenged me to complete a mile of
burpees. That challenge was ultimately the impetus for the Warrior Mile,
because while it seemed silly to me to attempt such a feat without having some
sort of overarching purpose, I thought it might be worth it to attempt a mile
of burpees if it were for a great cause. With the help of Detachment 415 cadet
and cadre leadership, my fellow cadets, and many generous family members,
friends, and U of M students, the event has been a huge success each year.
In my experience, the process of
organizing an event such as the Warrior Mile has three distinct phases. The
first is the planning phase. This phase is filled with designing posters,
confirming dates, setting up Facebook pages, registrations sites, and donation
sites. While this phase requires the most man-hours, it is also very fun and
exciting, because all of the organizers are filled with energy and work with
fervor to get the event off on the right foot.
The second phase is what I like to call
the “persuading phase” and it is by far the most stressful part of the entire
planning process. For the 6 to 8 weeks leading up to the event, event
organizers spend most of their time informing people about the Warrior Mile,
updating the Facebook page, soliciting donations, and convincing and cajoling
people to sign up to participate. If I had a dollar for every time I said, “You
don’t have to do the WHOLE MILE alone,” I would probably have enough money to
raise another $1,000 for WWP. This phase is so stressful because it is filled
with questions. Will anyone sign up? Will we raise any money at all? What if
this whole event is just a big flop? Thankfully, the group of cadets working on
this project is incredibly dedicated and supportive and helps to assuage these
fears.
The third and final phase is by far the
best part of the entire process. This is the execution phase and it is the
reason that I am so passionate about the Warrior Mile. The day of the event, I
walk into the field house excited but also a little bit nervous. The fear that
no one will donate or show up is still very real, but once the event begins, my
worries are gone in a flash. Not only do dozens of people show their support
for our cause through financial contributions and/or event participation, but
each and every person who shows up is excited to be there. It is difficult to
put into words the sense of gratification that comes from watching participants
and supporters during the Warrior Mile; whether they are coming just to watch,
to do a few laps, or are taking on the entire mile, each person involved is
supportive of the people around them. Furthermore, although they are attempting to
do something that is physically and mentally exhausting, each participant rises
to the challenge and gives it their all. Not a single person who set foot on that
track backed down from the test and not a single person surrounding that track
was hesitant to provide encouragement or support.
It is incredibly humbling to see the
compassion, encouragement, and camaraderie that result from the collaborative
action of dedicated, like-minded people. Both this year and last, I have left
the Warrior Mile with a renewed faith in humanity and a greater appreciation
for what a motivated group of people is capable of accomplishing. I look
forward to helping make this event a new tradition at Detachment 415.
