By CRAIG D. SCHENCK
Sentinel staff
OCEAN CITY — Hundreds gathered early Saturday morning beneath the loggia at the Ocean City Music Pier, watching warily as the rain fell and wind howled along the obstacle course they were about to tackle.
Wooden hurdles — both knee- and hip-high — mounds of sand, pools of water and sheer exhaustion awaited during the annual Memorial Beach Challenge, one of the many fundraisers benefiting the nonprofit 31Heroes. The organization provides funding to help military members and veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries and/or post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as supporting the families of a military tragedy in Afghanistan.
Jill Arnone, executive director of the organization, wasn’t too concerned about the weather — certainly not as much as the city’s merchants, who participated in the Unlocking of the Ocean and Business Persons Plunge the previous day — but she was preparing to stay relatively dry that day.
“We would like the weather to be a little bit nicer (big “but” with a pause) you’re going to get wet and sandy either way. So luckily a lot of people still came out to support us. We’re happy about that and we’re glad to be here,” Arnone said.
Vanessa Coria, a member of 31Heroes board of directors, said she and Arnone were visiting from Virginia Beach, Va., where the organization began, to support those hosting the event.
“A group of local community members decided 10 years ago that they wanted to do an event and they wanted to support 31Heroes,” she said. “We are happy that they support our organization. All the money that is raised by this event goes to military families of those who were lost on Aug. 6, 2011, in a devastating crash in Afghanistan.”
Preparing for their fourth beach challenge, thirtysomethings David and Allison Drew of Philadelphia said it’s nothing compared to “what the real men and women of the military go through.”
“But we can pretend for a half-hour,” Allison Drew said, adding that the couple has been visiting Ocean City “generationally.” She said her parents have been vacationing on the island since they were young and now own a home on 30th Street.
They are happy to participate in the many fun events held throughout the spring, summer and fall in America’s Greatest Family Resort.
“Ever since we found out about it, we wanted to make it a tradition,” she said, noting they left their 9-month-old son with his grandparents but already are planning for when he’s old enough to run alongside them.
“When he is able to do the kids run we’ll get him going, too,” Allison Drew said.
They said as former athletes, they enjoy overcoming the difficult obstacles.
“The obstacles are a lot of fun. They do a great job with preparing new, different things every year and we look forward to seeing what they are going to have for us this year,” Allison Drew said.
Is it difficult?
“My goal is to beat her, so it’s very tough for me but it’s really fun too,” David Drew said. “You enjoy every second of it because you don’t always get to climb over everything on the beach like this.”
“We just love that spirit of competitiveness but fun at the same time,” Allison Drew added, with an eye on the sky. “These winds are going to be pretty crazy, northwest, but we’ll get by.”
The young mother said it goes “quicker than you think.”
“It’s only 2 miles, so whatever you’re going through, you just give yourself a pep talk and it will be over soon,” she said.