There’s another movement to raise awareness about American prisoner of war Bowe Bergdahl, and this time if comes from CrossFit workout enthusiasts who are determined to increase international pressure to secure the safe release of the 25-year old Army soldier who has been held in captivity by Taliban militants for three years.
Event Coordinator, Chrissy Marsaglia, a member at Maple Valley CrossFit (sponsor),has declared June 30 as a one-of-a-kind Workout of the Day for CrossFit devotees across the globe. She hopes local CrossFitters everywhere will participate.
“We’re aiming big,” Marsaglia said. “We want people to think about Bowe as much as possible; we know he is always on the mind of his family.”
The Idaho Sun Valley/Hailey native is a member of the 1st Battalion of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment and was captured by Taliban forces in Afghanistan in 2009.
Individuals and businesses across the United States and around the world are banding together in this unique event designed to raise awareness and funds for the Bergdahl family’s efforts, and to raise money for the purchase and placement of billboards around the country calling for Bergdahl’s release.
Like any CrossFit WOD, the workout will be scalable and can be adjusted to any person’s fitness level. The purpose is to do something to honor Bergdahl, Marsaglia said. Bike rides, runs, ballet, sailing…anything. Funds raised will be used for similar billboards.
Marsaglia said she was “excited to announce that several locations are already on board in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and even Australia.”
All funds raised will be used to put up more billboards like the one displayed above. As Marsaglia noted, “all donations from the Bring Bowe Home WOD will be used for billboards… The reason for billboards is that we often meet people unaware that America has a living POW in Afghanistan. A billboard will help spread Bowe’s story. Each billboard will provide a number to call a switch board in DC which will then allow you to leave a message for your representatives asking to Bring Bowe Home.”
Prospective sponsors are encouraged to contact Marsaglia and view the event Facebook page (www.facebook.com/BringBowehomeWOD). Bring Bowe Home WOD is a national campaign, where CrossFit gyms will all do the same workout on June 30, 2012 to honor and call attention to the three-year anniversary of Bergdahl’s capture (http://bringbowehomewod.com).
A detailed list of articles about Bowe Bergdahl can be read here.
