FORT SILL, Okla. (Nov. 14, 2013) -- Family members and friends of 578th Forward Support Company Soldiers are staying connected and involved with a physical fitness program that bridges the divide that keeps them apart from their deployed Soldiers.
The idea of "Walk for 578th" was the brainchild of Ashley Barre, fiancee of Sgt. Sean Bourgasser. Barre and other family readiness group members decided that since deployed Soldiers do some form of physical fitness training every day, they could feel more connected to their far away loved ones by doing the same.
To close the gap between deployed Soldiers and their family members at home, the FRG decided to walk nearly 8,000 miles that separate Lawton from the United Arab Emirates. All miles logged by loved ones through physical exercise is counted in the hopes of reaching the magic number before their Soldiers come home in early 2014. To do this, the FRG created a walk Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com /groups/578FSC/) in which spouses, parents, friends or other family members of the deployed Soldiers can join by "liking" the page to begin logging miles.
"Originally, the idea was just for the families, but now the Soldiers have started getting involved," said Vanessa Norman, 578th FRG leader. "We're running, biking, walking and jogging toward them; and they are running, jogging and walking toward us."
The event began Aug. 31, and what once seemed like a momentous challenge, now appears to be within just a few more steps. As of Oct. 25, the group had completed nearly 5,000 miles, leaving only slightly more than 3,000 miles to go.
These loved ones are motivated to surpass their goal and see their beloved Soldier at the end.
To aid them in reaching their goal distance, the 578th FRG has a final "hoorah" walk scheduled for December.
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