Sarah Carr

May 5, 2019 - By Sarah Carr and Sean Torney

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On May 5, 2019, around 100 participants gathered at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center to run a two-mile boot camp inspired race to help women fighting cancer.

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The Brewser Boot Camp Run is a two-mile trail run with multiple boot camp stations lead by real drill sergeants along the way. As put by the Brewser Run information page, the run is a unique concept developed by the Memorial Fund.

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Jennifer Rush, host of the Brewser Boot Camps Run, founded the Gaye Y. Whitaker Memorial Fund in memory of her mother who died of Breast Cancer.

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“Each year we pick one or two local women from the New River Valley who we raise funds for and raise community support for. This year we have two ladies who are here today – and we do about three to four fundraisers a year for the designated women,” said Rush.

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With all proceeds going to the Memorial Fund, participants who signed up received a t-shirt, participation dog tags, one beer ticket and race registration.

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“This year we have Virginia National Drill Sergeants from out of state who volunteered to run the stations and have fun with our participants,” Rush said. Although the idea of a “boot camp” might seem scary to some, participants can make the event as easy or as challenging as they want it to be.

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As for the main mission of the event, Rush said that the goal of the Brewser Boot Camp Run is to raise money so those with cancer can focus on their recovery instead of focusing on medical expenses – all thanks to the community.