More than 30,000 people ran the Army Ten-Miler Oct. 12, but only one walked the course sporting a purple cape.
Kevin Stuart, a Washington, D.C., native who recently retired from the Army after nearly 33 years of service, donned the colorful outfit and walked the 10 miles through Arlington, Virginia, and District of Columbia in an effort to bring awareness to domestic violence and breast cancer prevention.
Stuart, who has run the Ten-Miler before, told the Pentagram that he had the idea for the awareness walk a few days before the race. With thousands of people running, he figured he would be able to raise lots of awareness, he said.
Stuart's walk coincided with both Domestic Violence and Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.
"I talked to hundreds of folks," he said. "That's how it came about, just to bring more awareness."
During his last duty station, Stuart served as the command sergeant major for the Medical Research and Material Command at Fort Detrick, Maryland. He also worked in a crisis unit for battered women during his time at Fort Polk, Louisiana.
"I've seen the hurt, the pain, the anguish that these women have faced being victims of domestic violence," he said. "It can happen to anybody."
With his medical background in the Army, Stuart stressed the importance of cancer prevention as well.
"We have a lot of research being done," he said. "It takes money, it takes time, it takes the experience and passion to do it ... A lot of times, cancer can be beaten by prevention. If we watch what we eat, pay attention to the surgeon general, we can beat it that way."
Jocelyn Barrow, family advocacy training coordinator with Army Community Service on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, helped Stuart get ready for the race.
"I thought 'We need to give him something to wear, and he said he wanted something that wasn't conventional, so I made him a cape," she said.
JBM-HH's Family Advocacy Program has put on a number of events in support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so they were more than happy to help, Barrow said.
Stuart hopes to participate in the awareness walk at future Army Ten-Milers.
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