Nature of Incident: Cops Running For Charity To Run On Seventh Continent
Location: Antarctic Peninsula
Date & Time: Mar. 9, 2015 @ 9:00 am
Unit(s) Responsible: Cops Running For Charity
Narrative:
After years of running all over the world and burning through countless pairs of shoes, Cops Running For Charity has reached a major milestone. They will be running a marathon in Antarctica. This will mark the realization of a long-standing goal to compete in marathons on all seven continents.
Logistically, running in Antarctica requires much more planning than their previous trips abroad. Just getting there will be an adventure in itself. The group will travel from Los Angeles to Buenos Aires, and then on to Ushuaia in Tierra Del Fuego. From there, the men will board a Russian icebreaker that will take them across the Southern Ocean via the Drake Passage on a four-day journey to the Antarctic Peninsula.
Despite it being summertime in the southern hemisphere, the race will take place in sub-freezing temperatures on ice-covered roads linking scientific research stations along the peninsula. Race organizers will have their hands full ensuring runners are adequately equipped for the difficult conditions during the race.
For years, CRFC has been making its mark in major running events throughout the world, including a multi-day run in the Sahara Desert, a marathon on China’s Great Wall, as well as events in Iceland, Siberia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Easter Island, Patagonia, Ireland, and numerous major marathons in the United States.
All of their events fulfill multiple goals for the group. They raise thousands of dollars for local medical charities, they promote physical fitness, and they enjoy the camaraderie of sharing their travels and adventures throughout the world.
The Antarctica team will consist of Thousand Oaks Chief of Police Commander Tim Hagel, Ojai Chief of Police Captain Dave Kenney, Sergeant Frank Underlin Ret., Captain Paul Higgason Ret., and Thousand Oaks Chief of Police Commander Randy Pentis Ret.
The team has raised more than $300,000 for organizations such as Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, ALS, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Ventura County, Camarillo Hospice, and Make-a-Wish Foundation.
The idea of starting CRFC started on the back of a cocktail napkin more than ten years ago. The team’s motivation can be summed up by a quote from Winston Churchill: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
For more information about the team and how you can help support their charities, visit www.copsrunningforcharity.com or contact Commander Tim Hagel at (805)947-8189 or retired Commander Randy Pentis at (818)661-8540.
Prepared by: Sgt. Eric Buschow
News Release Date: Feb. 12, 2015
Media Follow-Up Contact: Sgt. Eric Buschow (805)947-8129
[email protected]
Approved by: Cmdr. Tim Hagel
