Two years ago, during Thanksgiving weekend, my nephew, a fine young man of exceptional character, was killed by a roadside bomb in Ad Duilayah, Iraq. We miss him daily, and it is with special interest I noticed a news story release today about another American soldier in Afghanistan, separated from family and homeland, who is planning to do a run to raise money for breast cancer in the desert of a foreign land. Army 1st Lt. Michael G. Clark, Task Force Muleskinner air movement officer, will run for the Komen Pittsburgh Race for the Cure, only he won't be doing it in Pittsburgh. Back home, Clark would be running with his family during the annual event they have participated in for the last four years. Clark became involved in the Komen Pittsburgh Race for the Cure after he lost his grandmother to breast cancer.

"When my grandmother passed away I was very devastated," Clark said. "It was hard on me. Later I decided I wanted to do something to help so that others wouldn't have to go through what I went through, losing someone to breast cancer. That's when I started running for the cure." Although Clark will not be able to run the race with his family members back home, he will be joined by some of his military family members, including his commander and other members of his unit.

Clark will continue collecting donations up until May 14. I went to the Komen Pittsburgh Race for the Cure website and did a search of race participants for Army 1st Lt. Michael G. Clark and found this donation page. I called the Pittsburgh Race for the Cure affiliate office to verify this is the same person but no one at the office answers. If you wish to donate to his run, I believe this is the correct page to do so, but I cannot verify it with the race officials in Pittsburgh at this time. 

Photo credit:  Sgt. Michael J. Taylor, USA