Seven Springs 14-year-old races to benefit military causes

How do you show your appreciation for the men and women who serve in the U.S. military? Have you ever picked up the tab for a service member in a restaurant? Attended an event that honors former or current members of the military? Simply said the words, “Thank you for your service”?

Fourteen-year-old Seven Springs resident Marggret-Ann “Maggie” Barber shows her appreciation by running. To date, she’s completed two races and is registered for four more, all for the purpose of benefitting active duty, retired and reserve military, and their children.

She completed the Red, White and Blue Color 5K in Jacksonville on April 22, to benefit the Navy Marine Relief Society; and she completed the Military 5K Run/Walk in Clayton on April 29, to benefit Our Military Kids, and on May 27 she ran a race in Emerald Isle to benefit Big Sky Bravery. Her upcoming races include: a June 4 race in Jacksonville to benefit Hope for the Warriors, a Sept. 9 race in Wilmington to benefit Step Up for Soldiers, and a Nov.11 race in Cary to benefit the U.S. Veterans Corps.

And here’s the thing: Maggie, the daughter of William and Janelle Barbour, wants to take part in even more races, but frankly, it’s kind of tough for the home-schooled teen to squeeze anything else into a schedule that’s already tightly packed, thanks, in part, to her participation in two youth military organizations. She is a Seaman Recruit in the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps (Raleigh Battalion), the official youth development program of the Navy and Coast Guard, intending to focus on medical training. (When she races, she does so in her USNSCC physical training gear.)

She is also a Cadet Airman in the Civil Air Patrol (Goldsboro Squadron), America’s Air Force Auxiliary. Her focus in this program is search and rescue, and para-rescue.

When asked how she gained such an interest in the military, Maggie replies, “I guess it’s in my blood.” She cites a broad range of family military service that stretches back many generations, with representation in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

At 14, her career path isn’t mapped out, but she acknowledges that entering the military is a possibility, with a goal of serving as a Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsman in the U.S. Navy. “It sparks my interest mainly because of the medical aspect and I feel that it would honestly be an exciting career,” she explains.

Maggie describes her interest in the medical field as “one of my biggest passions and interests, and I think it always will be.” It’s not surprising, then, that science is her favorite subject. “It’s interesting how there is always something new to discover and there will never be an end to it,” she says.

As Maggie looks ahead to the next few races she is signed up to run, she also has ideas for races she would like to organize. She’d like to put together an annual 5K or 10K in the Mount Olive/Goldsboro/Seven Springs area that would end at a St. Baldrick’s event. (The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is dedicated to supporting research on finding cures for childhood cancers, and its signature events involve folks shaving their heads, both in solidarity with children who often lose their hair to cancer treatments and as a means of raising funds and awareness.) Maggie sees this race as an opportunity to help two causes (one military, the other St. Baldrick’s) at the same time. And, just in case you’re wondering: “Yes,” she says, “I would shave my head at the St. Baldrick’s event. It is completely worth it to help children with cancer.”

The other race Maggie contemplates organizing is “an annual 5K or 10K to raise money for the Raleigh Battalion to help the cadets cover training costs for things like Field Ops and gear for new cadets.” She envisions this race taking place in the Wake County area.

When it comes to honoring our military, it doesn’t look like Maggie will be slowing down anytime soon.