POWERGRAMS

HEALTH & WELLNESS Run honoring memory of APSO member also supports Wounded Warrior Project Nearly 90 runners took part in Mark Mooneyham Memorial 5K. Give honor to whom honor is due. That was the ideal behind Plant Barry employees' creation of the first annual Mark Mooneyham Memorial Support Our Troops 5K. Nearly 90 runners took part in the event at Creola Park near Mobile, sponsored by the Barry Chapter of the Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO). About 30 Barry APSO members were among the runners and volunteers, lending their support to raise nearly $1,500 to assist military veterans through the Wounded Warrior Project and the Support Our Troops program, said chapter President Stacy Simmons. The runners, many wearing T-shirts with emblems of their U.S. military branch, took to the trails at 8 a.m. For avid runner Angel Mooneyham, there was never a more personal reason to take part in a 5K: She ran in James and Nicki Kyle relaxed remembrance of her husband, with Angel and Mark Mark, who served in the U.S. Mooneyham after 2013 Azalea Air Force. Though Nov. 9 Trail Run. dawned sunny and warm, Mooneyham said, the day was bittersweet for the Plant Theodore Compliance and Support specialist. "Mark never wanted attention," Mooneyham said. "His friends and I could almost hear him saying, 'Please don't make a big deal of this.'" On Thursday morning, May 23, Mark and his best friend, James Kyle, were swimming in Mobile Bay as part of their training regimen for Fairhope's annual Grand Man Triathlon. Mark became distressed and called out to Kyle for help. His friend struggled in deep water to keep Mark afloat. Kyle managed to pull him unconscious to a buoy and, once stabilized, quickly swam to a pier to grab a life ring. Kyle brought his friend ashore, performing CPR for more than 30 minutes while awaiting an ambulance. Mark Mooneyham passed away two days later. Taking part in the memorial run was extremely emotional for Team Mooneyham, comprised of Angel, Kyle, a mechanic-welder at Barry, and his wife, Nicki Kyle, a clerk for Power Delivery Distribution at the Saraland Office. Running with friends made it easier, Mooneyham said. "This was the first time for us to get back to running since Mark's accident, and we all ran it together in Mark's memory," she said. Simmons said Mark had represented Barry Chapter in Mobile's MS Walk and the Heart Walk. "Mark Mooneyham was a very dedicated, active APSO member and a veteran," she said. "We wanted to keep him in our memory and, at the same time, honor veterans everywhere. We want to support our deployed military, and I can foresee us making this run a signature event for our chapter. "It was such a good event," added Simmons, who partnered with Theodore Cogen Facility Operations and Maintenance Manager Dewayne Hammond to create and organize the 5K. Barry Instrumentation and Controls Specialist Joe Baas served as chef. Following the event, runners were treated to a cold drink and a bowl of Baas' renowned chili – often served at events for plant employees. Simmons bestowed each runner with a military-style dog tag for participating. For Mooneyham, the day brought both joy and sadness. "I was so honored and so touched by APSO's support," she said. James Kyle said he didn't realize until later the run would mean so much to him. He often wears the dog tag, engraved with the words, "Mark, always in our hearts." "It meant so much to me personally to take part in Support Our Troops 5K, to not only honor our servicemen, but also my best friend," said Kyle, a U.S. Army veteran. "The last thing we did together was train for a triathlon. I know Mark would be proud." By Donna Cope 7

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