Crossing the finish line of the Remembrance 5K was quite a feat for retired Master Chief Petty Officer Linda Fox, better known as "Sunny" to her friends, because it was the completion of her 1,000th race.

More than 400 people participated in the Sept. 11th race, hosted by Norfolk Naval Shipyard's Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) program, many of them decked out in red, white and blue.

After surviving a thyroid cancer diagnosis in 2006, Fox, who had previously completed between 50 and 60 races, determined beating cancer wasn't enough and made it a goal to run 1,000 races.

Because of her goal, Fox has become somewhat of a celebrity within the Hampton Roads running community, and many have followed her journey, including former Channel 13 News Anchor, Joe Flanagan, who was at the finish line, along with Fox's husband Bill, also a retired master chief, to celebrate.

As with many of her races, Fox did not run alone. In fact, she had a team to race with her, but they were not only there for moral support. Fox is also a volunteer with the Virginia Beach chapter of Team Hoyt, an agency dedicated to helping physically and mentally challenged children and adults experience the thrill of competitive running. Her team helped her push a boy named Blaize, who has cerebral palsy, in a specially-outfitted cart.

"Many of these kids can't run, walk or even talk," said Fox. "They have a tough life and you can help them have a better life. It's a joy to see the kids squeal and get excited - they love running."

The cart Fox and her team pushed is a special carbon fiber race chair that can cost upwards of $6,500. Fox worked hard to ensure Blaize would have the cart, which just so happens to be red, white and blue, for the special Remembrance 5K.

"I put a call out and told everyone I need help and the money was raised in three weeks," she said. After the race she donated the chair to Blaize's family.

"It's important to remember someone always has it worse than you, and there is always something you can do to help along the way," she said.

Although she never purposely set out to, Fox's life proves no matter how insurmountable the odds may seem, there is always a way.

Fox joined the Navy in 1974 two years after the decision was made to end the draft and rely on an all-volunteer military force as well as the proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution, both of which collapsed barriers to women's full integration into the military. She quickly made rank and in 1984 was the only female at her command to promote to chief. Five years later she put on the rank of master chief.

While she was active duty she played several sports including volley ball, basketball, and racquetball. She also played softball for the Navy for 20 years. It is also when her love of running began.

"When I was stationed at Commander Naval Base, Norfolk I saw all the MWR races and how easy it was to sign up and run," Fox said. "My first race was a 10k, I had never run a race before so my goal was to just to finish and not to stop. It took me an hour and four minutes."

"Now I've run enough of these MWR races that they're like a reunion where everyone shows up and cheers and congratulates each other."

When Fox retired from the Navy in 1995 it wasn't long before she got a call from a former boss and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Duane Bushey to go work for the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) program at a local Hampton Roads high school.

During her time as an NJROTC instructor, Fox participated in several more races including seven Honolulu marathons, the Walt Disney Goofy and Dopey marathons and even flew to McFarland High school in Boise, Idaho to meet with Danny Diaz and run with the track team.

Unexpectedly one day in 2006, Fox began to feel tired and worn down, a feeling that persisted for several weeks. She thought maybe it was just time to retire from her job as an NJROTC instructor but she soon learned the actual cause of her fatigue was thyroid cancer.

The news was both frustrating and shocking, as her husband Bill had only just been diagnosed with a malignant melanoma the previous year. However, doctors had been able to perform surgery to remove her husband's cancer. After she was told by one doctor surgery wasn't possible for her, she visited her husband's doctor and was treated right away and all the cancer was removed.

"We still have to visit the hospital for check-ups. I always tell people we're frequent 'flyers' there," Fox said with a smile.

Both Fox and her husband have now been cancer free for more than 10 years and still remain in contact with their doctor. "In fact, she has a daughter with down syndrome and they participate in the Step Up for Down Syndrome race in Virginia Beach every year," said Fox.

Once she began to recover she made the decision to complete 1,000 races, which was also a way to stay healthy and continue to combat cancer. More recently, she was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis but even that has not stopped her. Because Fox planned to continue running, her doctor told her she could only bike for several weeks and that is what she did to stay fit and keep up her strength. She also rearranged her run schedule to ensure her 1,000th race would land on September 11th.

"Everyone knows I bleed red, white and blue," said Fox.

Although she will jokingly say she runs because she likes chocolate and ice cream, she also runs because she still proudly dons her Navy uniform.

"I now substitute for the Virginia Beach NJROTC program so I still need to fit in my khakis and that motivates me," said Fox. "I still want to inspire kids to stay in school, stay off drugs, and out of gangs and maybe even help them join the Navy if they decide."

"Just because I'm not in the Navy anymore, I'm still part of the Navy; I still represent the Navy when I put the uniform on. It's 24/7," Fox said.

With all the miles and roads that lie behind, when asked if she decided to set a new goal, Fox said, "I'll have to think. I may bike a bit more but I will think of something cool so I have something to do each day to work toward."




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