NORFOLK, VA – Valour for women who serve; NATO personnel and family members participate in the ninth annual Valor Run, on March 26th, 2023, in honour of women who have served or are currently serving their countries.
“To raise awareness. To honour. To remember. To keep memories alive”
On March 26th, 2023, over 30 staff members from NATO’s Allied Command Transformation and their families ran in honour of women who have, or still are, serving their countries. The Valor Run, organised by the US non-profit organisation Valor Run Inc., hosts an annual 5k and 10 mile run to support US service women who made the ultimate sacrifice. This was an opportunity for NATO staff and their families to participate in a local community initiative, showing support and honour towards the servicewomen from all our NATO Nations and Partners.
During the event, Allied Command Transformation staff members showed cohesion as a collective team to engage and support the local community as members from ‘NATO’s home in North America’. The money raised from the race helps fund college scholarships, which are awarded yearly to students whose mothers served in the military post 9/11.
Prior to the start of the race, event participants also had a moment of recognition for Ukrainian women, civilian and military, who are supporting and serving their country, by fighting for their freedom, with too many having lost their lives since Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, more than a year ago. The only military officer from Ukraine stationed in Hampton Roads also ran in the challenge.
Allied Command Transformation Gender Advisor shared her thoughts after completing the 10 mile run challenge: “The Valor Run is an opportunity, for us as a NATO team, to run in support of an important cause during March, which is declared as Women’s History Month in the United States. Today, we have Allied Command Transformation staff participating, civilian and military, from different age, gender and nationalities. It’s our diversity and our unity that make the Alliance stronger, to be able to face today’s and tomorrow’s security challenges. All service members, women and men, are fighting to protect and defend their nation and people. But, we also need to acknowledge, as the war in Ukraine is reminding us every day, that the support and resilience of families and of the entire population plays such an important role!”.
The race results, along with course photos, will be posted on the Valor Run webpage. The run was also mentioned in the local news.
