KUWAIT -- American and British troops raced for the finish line during a 10-km road race/fun run here on May 25 to benefit the charity "Children With Leukemia."
Two United Kingdom service members organized the event and asked for each runner to donate three dollars to the cause.
More than 100 U.S. and U.K. service members ran the race. Sgt. John Parello, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39 ground support equipment electrician, from Trevor Wis., won the road race with a time of 37: 54.
Sgt. Iain Birrell and Cpl. Chris Sturgess, from the British Royal Air Force, passed out flyers to both British and American troops to help publicize the event with the hopes raising 500 British pounds for the charity, said Birrell.
Sturgess and Birrell organized the race not only for the charity but also to give the troops here something to do.
"I thought it was a good thing to do for morale," said Sturgess.
Many troops ran the race to help benefit the charity and for the workout.
Capt. Tim Theerman, a Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 pilot and San Diego, Calif., native, ran the road race in 43:08.
"I needed the workout. I needed a good excuse to come run," he said.
The race raised about 350 pounds for the charity, said Birrell. He is hoping that other donations help reach the goal of 500 pounds.
The fastest U.S. and U.K. males and females received a 10km road race/ fun run t-shirt for winning the race.