MCL/TEL Semper Fi 5k 

November 13, 2021 8 AM  Seville Quarter Downtown Pensacola

Cpl. J.R. Spears Detachment of the Marine Corps League & TEL Staffing & HR announces the 37th Annual 5K Charity. Race will begin at Seville Quarter, wind through Downtown, Veteran’s Memorial Park ending at Seville Quarter.

Registration

  • $25 through August 29
  • $35 August 30 – November 11
  • $40 November 12-13
  • $20 ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY **MUST PRESENT ACTIVE DUTY ID AT PACKET PICKUP**

Packet Pickup/Late Registration

November 12  3pm-6pm

Running Wild

3012 E Cervantes St

Pensacola, FL 32503

 

November 13  Race Day  6:30am-7:30am

Seville Quarter

130 E Government St

Pensacola, FL 32502

REGISTER NOW

 

A History of the MCL/TEL Semper Fi 5K Charity Run for Children – 13 Nov 2021

 “A 37-year tradition of giving to the Children of the Greater Pensacola Area”

 November 13, 2021, marks the 37th year for the MCL/TEL Semper Fi 5k Charity Run for Children. The original intent of the run was as a charity fundraiser for the children and families of the Marines and Sailors who perished in the Marine Barracks Beirut, Lebanon, terrorist bombing attack on October 23, 1983. A Marine lieutenant, having newly reported to the Marine Air Training and Support Group-21 (MATSG-21), NAS Pensacola, for flight training, presented the idea for the charity run to the Command Officer, Colonel Robert “Bull” Bland, USMC. MATSG-21 adopted the idea and became the first sponsor of the event, which was named the Beirut Relief 10K Run. Colonel Bland assigned the lieutenant, who initiated the idea, as the first Race Director. NAS Pensacola hosted the run on Armed Forces Day in May 1984 with Brigadier General Joseph Hoar, USMC, representing the Marine Corps Headquarters and receiving the proceeds of the race. Over 500 military and civilian runners participated in the first event, which contributed over $4000 for a Marine Corps Scholarship Fund that was established for the children of the families who lost loved ones in the attack. The race continued for several years, sponsored and executed by MATSG-21, with all proceeds going to the scholarship fund. Eventually, the scholarship fund was discontinued and the command shifted the race proceeds to Non-Profit Children’s Organizations of the Greater Pensacola area in keeping with “the tradition of giving to the children”.  The leadership for the race changed in 2014 to the Marine Corps League (MCL), J. R. Spears Detachment #066. At the same time, Total Employment Leasing (TEL) of Pensacola joined in partnership with the MCL to provide the leadership, resources, and the funding for the race.  Hosted by Seville Quarter and executed by Running Wild, the race goes through the Downtown District of Pensacola and encompasses both the Maritime Park and the historic district. Due to the COVID pandemic, the run was put on hold in 2020 but it is now back and scheduled for 13 November 2021. The event is always dedicated to a distinguished individual who has served our Nation.  This year’s race honors Lieutenant General Charles “Chuck” Pitman, USMC, a Pensacola Beach resident, who passed away February 2020. Every year many local active duty military units, such as MATSG-21/23, several Naval Aviation training squadrons, and local high school JNROTC units have run the event in formation. Going into the 37th year of the run’s legacy, the event has raised over $600,000 for local children’s organizations. This year’s recipients are New Horizons of NW Florida, Escambia Westgate School, Boys and Girls Club of the Emerald Coast, Miracle League of Pensacola, and LEAD Academy Classical School of Pace, Florida.