Have you ever wondered where someone from Hawai'i goes on vacation? We found out.
United Cerebral Palsy Association (UCPA) of Hawaii is connected with the Great Aloha Run in the islands and it was Great Aloha Run representatives that flew to Iraq in May 2009 to spread a little "Aloha" to U.S. troops.
The Great Aloha Run takes place each year during the President's day weekend and this year was its 25th anniversary. UCPA Hawaii is one of the charity recipients of the funds generated from this event and it supports the UCPA Hawaii early intervention program.
Most years, the "Sounds of Freedom," an active military unit, participates in the eight mile run, in cadence. When the miliatry is not on active deployment, the event can host upwards of 5,000 troops and 2,500 when troops are actively deployed, such as during the current Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. "The event has always had a great connection with the military. " says Donna Fouts, UCPA Hawaii Executive Director.
UCPA Hawaii Executive Director, Donna Fouts had the opportunity to function as the charity connection and "thank you arm" for the Great Aloha Run when visiting the troops in Iraq. The proceeds from the Great Aloha Run provide $250,000 to $300,000 each year for local Hawaiian charities and, said Fouts, "I thought of nothing more that I could do than to support our troops. I was deeply honored."
The idea for the trip came up casually, and took root quickly. Fouts recalls in discussing the idea, "what we need is some aloha spirit over in Iraq."
The trip, overall, took 14 days with two days of flying to get there and two days of flying to get back.
The group left in May 2009 consisting of a party of nine. Five entertainers and the rest, including Fouts, were made up of support staff. The group held performances, flying from base to base in either a C-130 Hercules cargo plane or a Blackhawk helicopter, enduring tempuratures upwards of 120 degrees fahrenheit, in dry heat; "everyone always had a bottle of water on hand." Local entertainers, Sonya Mendez, Nohalani Simpriano performed with three of their dancers, who are each Hawaii State beauty queen title-holders and also skilled Tahitian dancers. Everyone was on-call, 24/7, to sign autographs and spread the aloha spirit for the troops.
Recalling the trip, Fouts said,
"This was certainly different for all of us. Everywhere we went the landscape was brown, dirt and rocks. We wore flak jackets everywhere."
"The troops were so appreciative. The troops often would ask us why we would endure 48 hours of constant travel just to hold a one hour show. We never saw a negative person. Every troop shared the sentiment that 'this is the mission we have, we're proud to do it.' We never expected such positivity in the war zone."
"I am so appreciative for our freedom. Everyone should have to go to a country like that, because we often take our freedom for granted."
"The trip itself was so wonderful to spread the aloha spirit. I came away on such a buzz, that I would go back in a heartbeat and it was an experience that I won't soon forget."
"I'm in my 50's and these people are out there, 21-24 years-old and I know that there is nothing wrong with our youth after seeing what I saw. It was relatively safe and just after I left one base was attacked the day after our performance. One of the troops I spoke with told me, 'You need to know that we are making progress, wonderful things are happening. Please spread that along to the people you talk to when you get back to the States.'
Thanks to all of the troops serving around the world in every capacity. Thank you to the Great Aloha Run and Donna Fouts for sharing this wonderful story with the UCP community.
For more information, please visit the UCPA Hawaii Web site, view more photos on Flickr.com, or contact Donna Fouts at (800) 606-5654.
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