My Race To Fund A Warrior's Foundation

“Glen Would Go.”  The Glen in this case refers to Glen Doherty, a Winchester MA native who was somewhat restless and always looking for the next adventure.  Glen was loyal to his core group of friends who were social misfits, but he never passed up an opportunity to make new friends and see how much more fun he could have.  After high school, Glen went on to become a whitewater rafting guide, a ski instructor, and even learned to fly planes, surf, and become a talented cook and after party expert.  He also became a Navy SEAL, and fearlessly stood up to defend our country, even after he retired from the military.  It was on one of these post military security missions in Benghazi, Libya on 9/11/12 that Glen was killed in a mortar attack on the American consulate there.  It was a fight that Glen hadn’t been assigned to, but he knew that they needed help.  Glen would go, and go he did.

 The “Glen Would Go” saying is on a moisture wicking shirt, created for supporters of the Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation, one of which is currently on the back another Winchester native Eric Pharo, soaking up what he said feels like gallons of sweat.  “I was never much of an athlete,” commented Pharo who was on the wrestling team with Glen for a year in Winchester High School where they graduated together.  Pharo, who now lives in Merrimack NH, continued,  “It wasn’t until after college when I ran in the Law Enforcement Torch Runs and then later became a Firefighter that I learned how much the human body could sweat.”  At the end of January, Pharo said he decided that he needed to get back in shape after having retired a couple of years ago from being a volunteer Firefighter and EMT which he did for 17 years.  He and his wife ordered the Insanity workout dvd’s, and after four months, which is two rounds of the program, is in the best shape of his life.  “Aside from running in the Law Enforcement Torch Runs in the past, passing the physical agility test for being a firefighter here in New Hampshire is the hardest physical thing I’ve done up to now,” said Pharo.  “Insanity whipped my butt in to the best shape I’ve ever been in.”  Now, Pharo is using the Spartan Race’s workout of the day or WOD’s. “They’re just as tough as Insanity, but in a different way,” he said.  “All of the exercises are designed to get you used to the strength, endurance, and speed that you need to finish the race.”   

The Spartan Race, something Glen enjoyed running, is an obstacle style race that has three different levels you can sign up to run.  The Sprint is a 3 mile race with 15+ obstacles.  Then there’s the Beast which is 8 miles and 20+ obstacles, and finally the Super Beast which is 12 miles and 25+ obstacles.  For his first Spartan Race, Pharo is trying the Sprint.  Pharo said he’s doing it not only for the fun and challenge of it, but to raise funds and awareness of the Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation or GDMF.  After Doherty’s death last year, the GDMF was set up by his siblings and closest friends to support the Special Operations professionals like Glen who are transitioning back to civilian life.  Their challenge is in having the skills and education needed to make a smooth transition and get their post military career going.  As Pharo puts it, “They can drive a tank but aren’t licensed to drive a tractor trailer.  They could be a field medic, but don’t have the protocols and licensing to be a civilian paramedic.  Not all military skills can translate in to a civilian career.  Additionally, the spec ops warriors need, and deserve, an opportunity to decompress, especially if they have families of their own.”  This is where the GDMF comes in.  The Foundation’s board of directors, headed up by Glen’s sister Kate Quigley, awards scholarships or grants to these warriors so they can get the education or training they need to launch a new career.  The grants can even be used to take their family on a fun adventure which is a perfect way to decompress from the stress and rigors of being deployed.  “It’s the way Glen lived his life,” said Pharo.  “Work hard, but play hard too.  That’s how you earn a balanced life.”  Pharo also pointed out Glen’s simple four steps to living life like Glen as taken from the eulogy Glen’s brother Greg delivered at Glen’s funeral:   1) Improve yourself.  2) Build skills. 3) Help others.  4) Find what you love to do and do it.  Find who you love and show that you love them. 

Pharo has requested that you sponsor him in the Spartan Race by supporting the Foundation.  His goal is to raise $1000 by race day, 8/10/13.  “I will be facing obstacles on the race course in much the same way that the Spec Ops guys face when they transition to civilian life.  I am confident that with the support a donor gives to the foundation  and my physical training, I can overcome those obstacles and not only make it to the finish line, but finish strong.  When you donate, please make your donation for a whole dollar amount PLUS $.01 so the FOundation can mark it as being for my efforts.”  If you’re interested in supporting the GDMF and cheering Pharo on at the same time, here’s the link to the foundation’s donation page:  glendorhertyfoundation.org/donate.  Pharo has also set up a Facebook page to keep those who are considering sponsoring him up to date on his training, thoughts on Glen, obstacles in the Spartan Race and so on.  www.facebook.com/myracetofundawarriorsfoundation  He requests that you like that Facebook page and help spread the word.