‘Tis the season for donning that favorite, awkward holiday sweater.

The Army Substance and Abuse Program hosted an Ugly Sweater Run/Walk Dec. 18 at Custer Hill Golf Course. The event was part of a campaign for creating awareness about December’s National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month.

About 100 participants came out to the event. Many of them, dressed in what some might call interesting attire, came out to compete in the ugliest holiday sweater contest before the run/walk.

“It was just an idea that we came up with,” said Chris Bowman, prevention coordinator, ASAP.

People seem to really have fun with it, he added.

“I don’t ever win, so I feel lucky,” said Meritssy Creel, military spouse, Tampa, Fla.

Creel won the honors of the ugliest sweater at the run/walk. The prize included cash and gift cards to local stores.

“I just put it together,” she added, describing her sweater.

The run/walk was an about three-mile loop around the golf course.

Ten facts were set up along the loop about drunk and drugged driving for participants to read as they went along the course, Bowman said.

“They’re pretty relevant facts,” he said.

The run/walk was an opportunity to have Family members participate and to help units build camaraderie as well, Bowman said.

“It’s a good turnout of people, especially for a holiday season, and I’m glad we had the turnout we did to go out there and do a little bit of running,” said Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Ribecca, 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division.

Ribecca was one of the first to complete the run/walk.

“This is more than I ever expected,” Bowman said of the first ugly sweater run/walk. “People really got behind it.

“(It is) just something kind of out of the box.”

By Calun Reece
1st Inf. Div. Post

Calun Reece  |  POST
Participants of the ASAP Ugly Sweater Run/Walk wait to find out the winners of the Ugly Sweater competition Dec. 18 at the Custer Hill Golf Course. Participants wore the attire while running or walking the designated loop around the golf course.

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