Service members and civilians from Hampton Roads gathered at Naval Station Norfolk Gymnasium, N-24, to raise breast cancer awareness Oct. 24.

Norfolk Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) hosted the "Burpees for Breast Cancer" event, a physical fitness challenge designed to increase command education and participation during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A burpee is a four-movement, aerobic exercise.

"We do monthly challenges," said Whitney Lockwood, a fitness specialist at N-24 and event co-coordinator. "Since it's breast cancer awareness month, we wanted to recognize that and burpees just work well."

Participants competed in a partner workout which consisted of burpees performed in two-minute intervals, focusing on the statistic that every two minutes a new case of breast cancer is diagnosed.

Lt. Cmdr. Ryan Bareng and Lt. Col. Mark Zarnecki, assigned to Naval Warfare Development Command, were declared the winners as the last team standing after completing 10 intervals for a total of 110 burpees.

"I had fun out there," said Master Chief Petty Officer John Eskridge, assigned to Transient Personnel Unit. "It brings awareness, but also promotes physical fitness."

The event also commemorated those who have or are currently battling breast cancer.

"At least five people I know have been affected by breast cancer," said Lockwood. "It was just really cool to see everyone come out, throw on pink, and support awareness."

For more information about other fitness challenges hosted at N-24, visit http://www.navyMWRmidlant.com/.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Navy Public Affairs Support Element, visit www.navy.mil/.