POWERGRAMS

POWER OF GOOD Life-changing run Employees crisscross state to fight cancer T alk about experiencing "runner's high." Words couldn't describe all the joy members of Alabama Power's 18-runner, 10-driver team felt after jogging 350 miles cross-state in the annual Run for the Reason. But there was more reason to celebrate: They netted more than $40,000 to help the American Cancer Society's quest to beat the deadly disease. That's the largest amount raised by an Alabama Power team in the run's 11-year history. "It was an incredible event," said team chairman Trey Hayes, Commercial and Industrial Marketing specialist at the Montgomery Office, Southern Division. Starting at Oxford on April 18, three teams traversed the state in a trek that ended at Fort Gaines Park in Dauphin Island. Members ran 30- to 40-minute spans of 4 miles each, totaling about 12 hours over three days. Each runner and driver in the six recreational vehicles took funding pledges from friends, family and colleagues to help meet their goal. Hayes and other team members put their hearts and souls into training. Many took part in 10K runs or half-marathons to prepare. Hayes, who ran track at Brilliant High School in Marion County, Fuel Analyst Shilonqua Higgins Lee passes baton to Williams. made longer runs recently to ensure he'd endure the "It was really special because each of our APSO action-packed three days. chapters embraced this run," Hayes said. "We In the past year, Hayes witnessed a close friend's couldn't have pulled this off without their help and fight that began when an unusual mole was support. Having our APSO friends there to meet us diagnosed as cancer. made us feel so good, and the food revived us." "It's been devastating for my friend, who is in his One thing is certain: Hayes, Quigley and other late 20s and has a young family," Hayes said. "He team members want to run in 2014. "I'd do it again, has the fastest growing form of cancer. Though he in a heartbeat," Quigley said. never smoked and doesn't have other risk factors, he For Hayes, the event was life-changing. has a family history of cancer." "Doing this gave me the best feeling I've ever Keavy Quigley gave her gift of "blood, sweat had," Hayes said. "God gave me the ability to run it, and tears" to honor her mother and father – who and if I can use this to help someone, it's something have undergone cancer treatments – and her aunts I want to do." who suffered from breast and skin cancer. She built her confidence by running in the Alabama Power By Donna Cope Service Organization's (APSO) 10K Power Run in Trussville. Neither fatigue, blisters, shin splints nor knee pain – indeed, not even the three blown-out tires on the RV – could deter Quigley from completing the run. Most daunting, she and Hayes agreed, was spending one leg of the run in pouring rain, in temperatures ranging from 30 to 40 degrees. The only time they stopped was when there was lightning. As an Operations team leader at Miller Steam Plant, Quigley is accustomed to working closely with others. But the run was special, she said. "There was so much fellowship and camaraderie," said Quigley, who has worked 10 years for Alabama Power and Southern Company. "There was a ton of benefits. We all had a really good time – we saw Photos by Bill Snow Market Specialist Kevin Williams took part in the 350-mile trek. gorgeous scenery and landscapes. I felt so good about all of it." The team enjoyed a dedicated following on Facebook and their blog, with their site receiving more than 3,400 hits, said Shane Powell, Engineering supervisor at Michigan Avenue Complex, Mobile Division. Hayes said they received exceptional support from employees, with members of APSO's 10 chapters providing donations, volunteers and supplies. As they approached Fort Gaines Park, the sore and weary runners were greeted by welcoming shouts and "high fives" from Mobile and Barry APSO members. They sat down to a feast of jambalaya, grilled burgers and hot dogs, baked beans and cold drinks. PAGE 3

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