RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- More than 300 Airmen and family members along with 40 dogs rallied at the 86th Construction and Training Squadron's compound here March 20, to participate in the 2nd Annual 5K LOVESWEET memorial run.
The run was in honor of Tech. Sgt. Jessica Sweet, 435th Communication Squadron supply Airman, who lost a hard fought battle to Acute Myeloid Leukemia last year.
Sergeant Sweet, mother of three children and wife of Master Sgt. Christopher Sweet, was diagnosed with AML at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center Sept. 18, 2008 and received treatment prior to her death at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. February 12, 2009.
AML is a cancer that starts in cells and develops abnormal types of blood cells and spreads quickly if not treated, according to the American Cancer Society.
Prior to being diagnosed, Sergeant Sweet was an avid fitness guru who never scored below 100 percent on her physical training tests while sharing her enthusiasm for fitness with everyone around her.
"The biggest passion Jessica had besides her family was fitness," said Staff Sgt. Amy Mackey, Non Commissioned Officer in Charge of Communication and Information Systems for the Air Force Element Personnel Exchange Program. "Jessica was a friend and mentor to a lot of people. For me, she was an amazing friend who pushed me to run as much as I do now and remember to be a better person every day."
Affecting and influencing people around her seemed to be a common trend for Sergeant Sweet, so for many it was an easy decision to run in memory of her.
"Jessica had a big smile on her face while we were running in the rain," Sergeant Mackey said. "I know that she was cheering us all on no matter if we came out to walk, run or just lend a hand to make sure this event was made possible."
Having the LOVESWEET memorial runs annually will not only keep the memory of her alive, but most importantly it will provide support to the LOVESWEET foundation, she added.
The LOVESWEET memorial fund was created last year by her husband.
"Currently, distributions are awarded annually between Parents and Children Fighting Cancer, which supports military children in the Washington metropolitan area who are battling cancer, and the Fisher House charity supports America's military in their time of need, by providing 'a home away from home' that enables family members to be close to a loved ones at the most stressful time during hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury," Sergeant Christopher Sweet said.
The idea of a memorial fund came about after Sergeant Sweet went to Walter Reed and her family was a guest at the Andrews Air Force Base, Md. Fisher House for three months.
"Jessica was so grateful and said that when she got better we would forever help the Fisher House in any way that we could," her husband said.
A couple of months before she died, the Sweet family were guests of the Parents and Children Fighting Cancer Christmas party where Jessica realized she could lend another helping hand.
"She was profoundly affected by the sight of the small children who were going through the same battle she was," her husband said.
Jessica's love of all children was nothing new, as she was the President of the Parent Advisory Board at the Ramstein Child Development Center prior to her illness.
"It was clear to me that I needed to create a vehicle to continue her mission of helping because of the impact she had on people and her commitment to helping others," said her husband.
The 5K LOVESWEET memorial run, was sponsored by the Women's History Month Committee and friends, raised $3,000 this year that will go toward the LOVESWEET foundation.
For more information about the LOVESWEET foundation and donations you can visit www.LOVESWEET.org.