PRESS RELEASE

Montclair athlete runs for Wounded Warriors

Prince William, VA September 28, 2010 - Stacy McAlpine has a personal reason to focus her running into a quest to raise funds for wounded warriors.  Through her job as an advisory consultant working with the Military Health System (MHS), she gains visibility into the day-to-day challenges faced by military personnel and the wounds of war.  On October 31, Stacy is participating in the Marine Corps 10K with Team Azalea Charities Run for Wounded Warriors with an ambitious goal to raise $15,000.

Stacy’s clients in MHS included working with the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) and at Walter Reed Army Medical Center with the Army Medical Department’s Northern Regional Medical Command. Working for these organizations has given Stacy a deep respect for the men and women who go to battle for America. “Since I work directly with the agencies and organizations that support these warriors, I have gained a better understanding of what is expected of our service men and women and what they risk on the battlefield that I think many Americans are not exposed to. At Walter Reed, it is not uncommon to see amputees - some with only one limb left. These are the visible wounds that stop me in my tracks and remind me what our warriors voluntarily risk when deployed.  The courage they have is unparalleled. Those that we can’t see - the ‘invisible’ wounds of war, such as psychological health and traumatic brain injuries - are less obvious and overlooked by many."

Although Stacy describes herself as “not a hard-core runner”, she has participated in the Army ten-miler three times and is ready for her fourth in a few weeks. She enjoys running for a cause because it makes the experience more meaningful. “I wanted to extend my support beyond the office and actively participate in raising Americans' awareness and appreciation for what our warriors give up in exchange for our freedom. Raising funds is my chance to give something back to them. I searched the web for ways to support wounded warriors and found that Azalea Charities, based in my community of Montclair, had a team in the Marine Corps Marathon and 10K and signed up.”

Azalea Charities sponsors the Aid for Wounded Warriors project to support military service personnel sick, injured or wounded in the line of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Last year Team Azalea Charities raised approximately $100,000 for U.S. and British service personnel, collaborating with the British Army Benevolent Fund America. This year the team includes 150 athletes in the Marine Corps Marathon and is partnering with the new Allied Forces Foundation (AFF), to host several wounded and active duty Allied teams raising funds for wounded in their respective countries, as well as U.S. personnel through Azalea Charities. Team Azalea Charities includes runners, walkers, cyclists, triathletes and other athletes who participate in a variety of events to raise funds for wounded warriors and their families.

About Azalea Charities
Azalea Charities is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in Prince William County, Virginia. The organization is staffed entirely by volunteers who donate their time, talent and money. Azalea Charities raises funds for its community charities and Aid for Wounded Warriors through membership fees, private donations and sponsorship of Team Azalea Charities in the Marine Corps Marathon and the Azalea Classic Pro-Am Invitational Golf Classic, the organization’s keystone event held each May at the Piedmont Club. Beyond minimal expenses, all the funds they raise go to their charitable core causes.

To join Stacy in her ambitious fundraising efforts for these brave men and women with your donation, go to the following website:
http://www.active.com/donate/TeamAzalea2010/footsoldier
Any amount is welcome!

For more information, contact:
Frank Lasch, Chairman, Azalea Charities, Inc.
703-670-5238, azaleacharities@aol.com