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CAMPUS

NU community runs to raise money for family of fallen soldier

By Chris Clement
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

The Norwich community raised over $500 in an “ultra run” Sunday, Oct. 10, for a widow and four children of a Marine captain who died in Iraq, according to a university history professor.

The event consisted of seven teams; two were faculty and staff, and five were student teams.

“This wasn’t about winning a race, and it wasn’t about being the greatest runner on the face of the Earth. It was about going out there and supporting a cause for somebody’s family that was less fortunate than we are,” Jonathan Swierat, 21, a senior peace war diplomacy major from Hopewell Junction, N.Y.

Dr. Rowly Brucken, an assistant professor of history at Norwich, was one of the key leaders who set up this event.

“The cause was to raise money for Marine Capt. Rich Gannon, who was killed in Iraq in April 2004 while helping a wounded Marine,” Brucken said.

Brucken said he first heard about the event through a group of runners in Kentucky.

He and Ray Zirblis, also a professor at Norwich, decided to do the event in Northfield. As a result of the efforts in Kentucky, Norwich can add over $500 to the growing pot of $12,000.

All the proceeds will benefit the family directly, and Brucken did this event for the family, but added that, “We have a responsibility as American citizens to support our soldiers overseas, regardless of our own political views."

According to Rob Lukaskiewicz, coordinator for academic enhancement and coordinator for advising at Norwich, the event was a challenge because he was used to running 6.2 miles and getting into his car and going home; not running for 12 hours straight.

Lukaskiewicz’s main reason for participating was because, “(My) brother was a 1989 graduate of Norwich, and he just spent the past 13 months in Iraq, so when I saw that it was also a fundraiser for Marine Capt. Rich Gannon, there was someone who was killed defending our country leaving behind a wife and children.”

Michael Slawski, 19, a sophomore economics major from West Springfield, Mass. said he, “Didn’t realize that (Gannon) had four kids. I just heard his family needed money."

“By midday, we were told that we raised $265,” Slawski said. “It felt really good that we were inspiring people to donate money.”

The event consisted of teams of up to six members running from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. The winner received a $50 gift certificate to Sarducci’s Restaurant in Montpelier and six free movie passes to the Montpelier-based Savoy theater, all donated by Zirblis.

Cross-country team number two finished first, running a cumulative total of 110 miles.

Swierat, one of the members of the winning team, said, “The most I ran before this was 26 miles in a marathon, and this time I ran 31 miles, myself, which is a major difference; a personal best for me.”

The event was long and rigorous and, according to Swierat, around mile 20 he developed tendonitis in one of his knees. He knew he had to just kept running even though it hurt; he couldn’t let down the team.

“The hardest part was waiting for your next turn to run. We would have about an hour and a half in between run times, and it got a little cold, and you bundled up,” Lukaskiewicz said. “But you got cold and clammy, and it was hard physically and mentally to warm up and start running again.”

Slawski said he ran just over 20 miles and came back exhausted in a daze. Two days after running the marathon, Slawski had to run a physical fitness test for the Air Force.

“I lived off Dayquil, cough drops, and ginger ale, and hammered out the physical fitness test but was shot for the rest of the week, especially for cross country practice,” Slawski said.

The whole event was very motivating, Brucken said, who was inspired by the drive of everyone who participated.

He noticed that most of the people who ran it never ran a marathon or even half a marathon before. He explained that they took the challenge and ran 15, 20, all the way up to 40 miles.

“I think you can really tell what people are made of at an event like that,” Lukaskiewicz said. “It requires an unbelievable amount of discipline to keep running around a track for 12 hours.”

Lukaskiewicz also noted how surprised and awed he was with the amount of participation from students.

“To know they don’t have to be there, they could have been in their rooms watching baseball and football on TV, but there we all were, and it got cold; the wind was blowing and the sun setting; hungry, thirsty, and tired, and we were cranking out laps,” Lukaskiewicz said. “This says something about the Norwich student.”

“The important thing is that you are going out there and showing your support for a good cause and trying to get people to donate money for families that need it,” Slawski said.

Swierat agreed, adding that he, “Would recommend it to anyone, because it is not about winning, and it’s not about losing, it’s about the cause and about what we are doing it for.”

Lukaskiewicz knows that participants do not have to possess superhuman abilities to run in an event like this.

“You don’t have to be Superman to put together a team of six and all share some of the day,” Lukaskiewicz said. “Get out there and do something unbelievably productive. You will walk away from that experience and say, wow, I never thought I could run that.”

Brucken noted that there is going to be a spring version of this event with the same outline.

“I would encourage them to participate in the spring version of this,” Brucken said, adding that it is a wonderful experience to, “Raise money for the families, for Norwich alumni or students who are overseas or who have suffered unfortunate casualties.”

“I think it lit a spark in me, and I needed that to happen,” Lukaskiewicz said. “I feel like a runner, again.

“I am planning on doing a marathon this spring, and from this event I believe it gave me the confidence to say ‘yes I should look for a marathon,’”Lukaskiewicz said. “Before this event, I always questioned whether or not I could do it.

“I mean, 26 miles is such a long way, but now that I have run 30, anything is possible,” Lukaskiewicz said.

Brucken sees more advantages to participating than just the physical.

“It’s amazing how far you can push your body when you have a cause behind it and a mindset to persevere.” Brucken said. “The participants received not just the benefits of physical fitness, but mentally they accomplished something they thought they could never do.”

The Norwich Guidon is a twice-monthly student newspaper distributed at Norwich University. It provides laboratory experience for students in the Communications program. Claims asserted by letter writers, editorials and other articles do not represent the positions of Norwich University. The Norwich Guidon welcomes signed letters to the editor. They should be no longer than 300 words. Unsigned letters will not be printed, but names may be withheld upon worthy request. All letters are subject to editing for length and good taste. Mailing address: The Norwich Guidon, Communications Center, Norwich University, 158 Harmon Dr, Northfield, VT 05663. www.norwich.edu/guidon.