SFS Airman to race in Ironman to raise funds for children's cancer research

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Cherish Chavez
  • 934th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL AIR RESERVE STATION --  When most people hear the name Ironman, they think of Tony Starks and all his suits of armor. Senior Airman Jeffrey Isaac, 934th Security Forces Squadron patrolman, thinks of something slightly different: his two best friends, speedos, bike shorts, and tennis shoes.

Airman Isaac and his best friends, David Tilton and Dane Bates, have always enjoyed making things a challenge between themselves. In high school, it was with wrestling and football; but their competitive spirits didn't disappear after graduation. As Isaac says, "We never stopped pushing each other." Now the three men live together, which makes is easier to train for their newest challenge: competing in an Ironman Triathlon.

The August 24th long distance race, consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bicycle ride, and 26.2-mile marathon run, usually requires about a year to train for. Isaac and his friends have only had six months. This makes for some very long days working to get ready for the competition, but to them it's all worth it when they think about what is motivating them - the fundraising effort they created for the Children's Cancer Research Fund. "We wanted to make it bigger than ourselves," said Isaac, who also set up the team's website and Facebook page.

So far, Isaac and his roommates have raised close to $1900. Half of the money will go to their travel expenses to get to Louisville, Ky. where the event is held, and the other half will go to the CCRF. Once all of their travel costs are covered, 100 percent of the money then raised will go to the research fund. The team chose the Children's Cancer Research Fund after being inspired by the story of Zach Sobiech. They hope this adventure will start a new tradition of giving back.