Soldiers Hold Their Own Women's Only 5K Walk & Run in Kuwait

GREENSBORO, N.C., Sept. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- —The 20th Women's Only 5K Walk & Run has added a new course—in Kuwait. Members of the 113th Sustainment Brigade will run a shadow 5K at their base in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. The 113th is a Greensboro-based Army National Guard unit supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120926/CG81478)

"This is a terrific way to plug in on some of the things going on back home," says Lt. Col. Miriam Gray, Deputy Commander, 113th Sustainment Brigade. "But it's really an event that's become personal. One of our soldiers was just diagnosed with breast cancer and has returned to the U.S. for care and treatment. So, we'd really like to hold this shadow run in her honor to let her know that we are all fighting with her and standing with her during this time."

"We are thrilled, delighted and honored that these women are joining us in promoting the importance of mammography and in remembering the many mothers, wives, sisters and friends touched by breast cancer," says Cindy Farrand, President, Women's Hospital. "It's a special way to mark the 20th Women's Only and a special way for Cone Health to support our community — even when it's 7,278 miles away."

Cone Health is providing race medals and 100 special edition "camo-pink" T-shirts for the event. The 113th shadow event features a Zumba warm-up, health and nutritional advice, and medical professionals discussing breast self-exams and reminding participants of the importance of mammograms. There will be fruit and cookies at the end of the event for participants. Men from the unit have volunteered to handle check-in, pass out water and monitor the course. While the Women's Hospital event begins at 8 a.m. on Oct. 6, the shadow run will be in the evening of Oct. 5 when Kuwait temperatures cool into the 90s.

The Women's Only is the largest fundraiser for the Mammography Scholarship Fund at Women's Hospital. Around 3,500 women are expected to take part in the Greensboro event. Activities include the Girls' Only race for participants 4 to 6 years old and an Expo with activities for the entire family.

Registration is $40. Girls' Only registration is $10. Registration proceeds go to the Mammography Scholarship Fund. Women can register by going to womensonlyrun.com.

People can follow the event conversation on twitter at #WO5K.

Cone Health is committed to being a national leader in quality, service and cost. The Network for Exceptional Care consists of The Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital, Wesley Long Hospital, Women's Hospital, Annie Penn Hospital, Cone Health Behavioral Health Hospital, LeBauer HealthCare, MedCenter High Point, MedCenter Kernersville and various outpatient clinics and programs. More than 8,600 exceptional people provide exceptional care to the people of Guilford, Rockingham, Forsyth, Randolph and Alamance counties.