5K raises awareness for military invisible injuries

Story and photos by Staff Sgt. John Wilkes, 180th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

The 180th Fighter Wing Color Guard presents the colors during the national anthem before the I Believe I Can Fly 5K Oct. 18, 2015, in Swanton, Ohio. Men and Women of the 180th FW traded combat boots for running shoes, joining local community members in a 5-kilometer race to raise awareness about traumatic brain injuries. READ STORY

Col. Craig Baker (left), 180th Fighter Wing commander and Pam Hayes, founder of The Arms Forces and coordinator of the I Believe I Can Fly 5K, address runners and supporters before the race.

The 180th Fighter Wing Color Guard prepares to present the colors during the national anthem before the I Believe I Can Fly 5K.

SWANTON, Ohio (10/18/15) — Airmen from the 180th Fighter Wing traded combat boots for running shoes, joining local residents in a 5K race raising awareness about traumatic brain injuries.

The “I Believe I Can Fly 5K” kicked off at Toledo Express Airport in Swanton, Ohio with the national anthem and a flyover from six F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 180th FW.

“The purpose of this event is to educate our community,” said Pam Hayes, founder of The Arms Forces and coordinator of the event. “What better way to do that than doing something fun and exciting that brings people together?”

The Arms Forces provides education and programs allowing veterans past and present, who have a traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder to find understanding, purpose and direction as they face “the other war” while living at home with their invisible injury.

“There are many veterans with invisible injuries and by putting on events like this we can raise money and awareness to support them,” Hayes said.

According to the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, active-duty and Reserve Component service members are at increased risk for sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI) compared to their civilian peers. In 2014, more than 25,000 service members were diagnosed with a TBI and between 11 and 20 percent of service members develop some form of PTSD.

Capt. Melanie Grosjean, 180th Fighter Wing director of personnel and chairman of the 180th FW Company Grade Officer Council, has helped coordinate the event since its inception. The officer council was a main supporter of the 5K.

“It’s a great event that gets better every year,” Grosjean said. “We get to raise awareness and support our veterans.”

“We want to say thank you to everyone who came out today,” Hayes said. “This is the second year for the event. Last year we had 326 people run and this year we are already over 400.”

By taking part in events like this, members of the 180th FW have the opportunity to give back to those who give so much to the 180th FW.