St. John's and U.S. Army to host International Sunshine Run in Kuwait
October 2004

St. John's is celebrating the 25th Anniversary Sunshine Run by adding an International 10K run at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. As many as 500 U.S. troops stationed there will participate in the simultaneous event that begins at 8:15 a.m. in Springfield on the St. John's Hospital campus and 4:15 p.m. at Camp Arifjan on Saturday, Oct. 9.

An Ozarks native assigned to the Springfield-based 1107 AVCRAD unit came up with the idea when he realized he was going to be away from home and have to miss the event.

"It started out as just me running it over here and keeping track of my time so I could compete with my sisters," he said. (Names are being withheld for security reasons). "It just grew from there."

The Army approved for him and others to create a formal run, called "International St. John's Sunshine Run at Camp Arifjan," and other servicemen and women soon signed up.

St. John's Foundation for Community Health organizes the event, which raises funds for St. John's Regional Burn Center, the region's only dedicated burn center in southwest Missouri.  The event also provides support for other charities, such as Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks and Springfield Catholic and Public Schools.

"Everyone is so excited about making this event bigger and better than ever," says Mickey Moore, event organizer. "It's a good time for a good cause and now this year is even more special because on the troops' involvement."

Sunshine Run T-shirts this year have the slogan "I ran with the troops" on the back and Moore is hopeful the event will be simulcast so each group can see each other on a large screen at their respective starting lines.