The Connection

Yank yourself out of that warm bed, jump into your running gear — and head to Bethesda’s Capital Crescent Trail on Dec. 12 to run or walk with the “Jolly Fat Man.”

For the past 19 years, The Sergeant’s Program (now Sergeant’s Fitness Concepts) has brought its recruits, clients and friends — and one “jolly fat man” to run or walk down the trail to support a charitable cause. The past three years, the event has benefited Operation Second Chance (OSC) — an organization committed to serving wounded, injured and ill combat veterans.

Sergeant Chuck Dyson will lead a group warm-up to the “Go Granny Song” and other fast-paced tunes that will get the body moving and the feet feeling ready to walk, jog or race. The warm-up will be held at 8 a.m. in front of Mon Ami Gabi, 7239 Woodmont Ave. The group will then travel down the Capital Crescent Trail for whatever distance each person chooses — then return to the post-run celebration between 9:30-10:30 for a breakfast at the American Tap Room. Registration is $40 and participants receive a shirt, post-event breakfast and the opportunity to participate in a raffle with prizes donated by local merchants to help support OSC.

Dyson explains what the event has meant to him: “It has been my honor to be a participant in this event for the past 19 years. As a former Army, Vietnam-era veteran, it is a pleasure to be able to give back to the men and women who go out each day of the year and help to preserve the freedoms some take for granted. We didn’t have this kind of support, so this touches me in a special way. Our gift to them and to their families is our way of saying thanks for their sacrifices that they’ve made and continue to do. Many who participate in this event are members of our camps and lots of people join us who have heard about our program through the media or from their friends. The good news is that veterans and their families attend this event as well. Some have expressed what Operation Second Chance has done for them and their families. This is one of the most heartwarming events I’ve ever attended. The outpouring of love is very rewarding.”

Operation Second Chance, a 501c(3) founded by Cindy McGrew in 2004, is committed to serving wounded, injured and all combat veterans. It supports veterans and their families while they recover at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. It is also dedicated to promoting public awareness of the many sacrifices made by the Armed Forces.

“Over the past 10 years, OSC has provided more than $2.5 million in assistance and morale activities to our wounded, injured and ill veterans. We receive requests for assistance every day from veterans who are struggling to keep up with their bills,” said McGrew. “We assist with rent and mortgage payments, utility bills, travel lodging and daily essential items, like food, clothing, etc. We also host monthly caregiver days, which gives the caregivers an opportunity to be pampered for the day. Additionally, we offer hunting and fishing programs and couples’ retreats that offer a chance for families to reconnect. It is because of the generosity of our nation’s communities and programs like The Sergeant’s Program that we are able to serve those who so bravely served us.”

Sergeant’s Fitness Concepts, created with the merger of The Sergeant’s Program and Custom Fitness Concepts in September 2015, provides indoor and outdoor boot camp classes to clientele in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Headquartered in Potomac, the company runs the original and oldest civilian boot camp program in the U.S. Tom Kalka, president of Sergeant’s Fitness Concepts said, “While our program is military styled, we also understand that we are not training soldiers to go off to war. But, we look forward to providing certain aspects that the military is well-known for including

accountability, camaraderie, esprit de corps and discipline. In our programs, we build a fitness community and you become a part of a team. Everyone works together towards achieving their goals.

“As an Army veteran, I am thrilled to run in my first Jolly Fat Man’s event and to work with Operation Second Chance,” added Kalka. “Being able to raise funds and awareness for OSC in order to support veterans, brings new meaning to our program and offers Sergeant’s Fitness Concepts a chance to give back.”

For more information and to register for the Jolly Fat Man Run/Walk, visit www.sargefitness.com/events.