Acclaimed Marathoner Supports Troops

America Supports You ^ | Oct 1, 2005 | Acclaimed Marathoner Supports Troops

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2005 - Nationally acclaimed marathoner, Shirley Pratt, noted for her 21-run salute to veterans will be on hand to greet Army Reserve runners participating in the Army 10-Miler this Sunday.

Pratt will be joining Lt. Gen. James Helmly, Chief of the Army Reserve along with noted actor and recently appointed Army Reserve Ambassador James McEachin in greeting Army Reserve runners and celebrating their completion of the race.

Army Reserve soldiers from throughout the United States will be participating in this year’s event. They will be celebrated at the completion of the race at the Army Reserve’s “Hoohah” tent located in the Pentagon south parking lot, Tent 40D. Pratt made national headlines last year when she began a fundraising campaign to honor men and women in the armed forces serving overseas by initiating a “21-Run Salute.” The salute involved Pratt’s participation in an amazing 21 marathons in a nine month period, averaging one marathon every two weeks.

Ms. Pratt completed her 21st marathon on May 25, 2005 in Traverse City, MI, wearing the appropriate runner’s bib number 21.

The 21-Run Salute idea was born in June 2004 shortly after Ms. Pratt was selected to run in the 2004 Marine Corps Marathon. Having friends and a relative serving overseas, she decided to run Marine Corps Marathon to honor them. Ms. Pratt was surprised when she was unable able to find any organized teams running for our troops at the various marathons. As a result she formed her own team and began a marathon fundraising campaign to raise at least $21,000. Pratt selected two worthy charities that help deployed troops and the families of fallen service members. These charities are the Operation USO Care Package and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS).

Her accomplishment has garnered awards, grants and national attention for the people and causes that motivated her effort.

Shirley Pratt is a current resident of Orlando, FL and is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, California. She is a graduate of both U.C. Berkeley and U.C. San Diego and has worked at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, CA, and later for the Army as an Operations Research Analyst in Florida. Ms. Pratt has more recently worked as a defense industry consultant. She is married to a Marine Corps veteran, and has a step-son in college.