|
Tuesday, October 7, 2008 7:12 PM EDT
Mother going great distance to support son in military
By Kate Day Sager
Olean Times Herald
|
| Dawn McGriff is shown taking a walk with her daughters Brooke (left) and Ashton and family dog, Rylee. Photo by Kate Day Sager/Olean Times Herald |
|
|
| |
|
BRADFORD, Pa. ” As the mother of an enlisted son, and girlfriend of a soldier soon to be deployed, Dawn McGriff knows what it’s like to wonder and worry about a loved one.
In an effort to support the soldiers currently serving in the Middle East, and the local troops about to be deployed, Ms. McGriff has decided to hold a fundraiser that will take a bit of effort on her part.
On Saturday, the Bradford resident will participate in her first 50-mile run around Canandaigua Lake in Western New York. The sixth annual Can Lake 50, or Canandaigua Lake 50-Mile Relay, begins at 7 a.m. Saturday with Ms. McGriff included among its ranks.
“I have never attempted this before and I’m sure this will be my one and only time,” Ms. McGriff said. “But it is the least I can do to bring awareness and support to our brave men and women who serve our country.”
She is also raising funds for the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, who are part of Charlie Company C, 1/112th Infantry of the 56th Stryker Brigade. Troops from that company will be deployed to Iraq in early January. Ms. McGriff said her boyfriend, Sgt. Steve Jones, will be deployed with the company. Her son, Army Spc. John McGriff, has served in Afghanistan and may be deployed again in the future. In addition, Spc. McGriff’s girlfriend, National Guard Spc. Samantha Hackett, also expects to be deployed in the near future to serve in the Middle East.
“I feel that everyone I love will be over there somewhere; it is my personal commitment to support them all,” she said.
“As a parent, I know of all the sacrifices that my son and everyone makes,” she said. “They’re out there in a foreign country for weeks on end with no running water, no real bed to sleep in and no real food ... if they can do that, I can sacrifice” with running 50 miles.
She said to prepare for the run, she ran in a 26-mile marathon at Presque Isle three weeks ago, and did pretty well.
“It was so hot that day that the last mile I had to walk and run,” she said. She said she also ran 25 miles on her own last week in preparation for the upcoming race.
“I will finish this, even if it takes 10 to 12 hours,” she said.
Ms. McGriff noted that she’ll wear a special T-shirt that was signed by the Charlie Company soldiers, and her sponsors, the day of the race.
Ms. McGriff’s daughter, Brooke, 9, said she’s proud of what her mom is doing “because she’s doing it for the Army.”
Brooke and her sister, Ashton, said they like to run and walk with her mother and might follow in her footsteps someday.
Ms. McGriff said donations for the drive can be sent to her place of employment, KOA Speer Electronics, Inc., 199 Bolivar Drive, Bradford, PA 16701, c/o Dawn McGriff, Pa. National Guard Operation Salute.
(Contact reporter Kate Day Sager at kates_th@yahoo.com)
 printer friendly version
 e-mail this story
Reader Comments
There are No comments posted. comments to this story.
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bradfordera.com.
Submit a Comment
We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
|
