OCEAN CITY- On the heels of a highly successful fundraiser and backed with the well-wishes of hundreds of supporters, Maryland State Police Trooper Heath Berkey of the Berlin Barrack, a recent leukemia survivor, is headed to Arizona this week for the P.F. Chang’s Rock and Roll half-marathon.
Berkey, who is winning his bout with leukemia, will participate in the half-marathon in Arizona this Sunday as part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program, the world’s largest endurance sports training program that provides a wide variety of training services to athletes preparing for events in exchange for fundraising efforts for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma research and patient services.
Berkey has been training for the P.F. Chang’s Rock and Roll Marathon and Half-Marathon for months and will travel to Arizona for the event this weekend. He will be joined by Maryland State Police Trooper Chad Dailey of the Salisbury Barrack, who will also compete in the event.
Last week, Berkey held his last official fundraising event before the race at the Greene Turtle North in Ocean City. The event, held last Thursday, was a great success with over $5,000 for the cause raised. First, the Turtle donated 10-percent of its revenue all day and all night to the cause. From 6-9 p.m., the Turtle collected $10 at the door for a buffet, raffles, silent auction and a live auction hosted by Mitch Scott of Great Scott Broadcasting.
Buoyed by the successful fundraiser, Berkey and Dailey are now headed to Phoenix for the half-marathon this Sunday. The race course runs through portions of three of Arizona’s most vibrant cities with perfect winter running conditions and live music at every mile marker.
The local Team in Training program has been training individuals and teams of athletes for endurance competitions around the country for years with the fundraising proceeds dedicated to research and patient services. The half-marathon that Berkey and Dailey will compete in this weekend is just one example. The local program is now recruiting for its summer season events and those interested in participating in the wonderful program are encouraged to attend the next meeting at the Ocean Pines Library at 6 p.m. on January 23. For more information, contact the local TNT program at teamintraining.org/md or call (443) 260-3000.