European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 27, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday May 27, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 9over Here a amps gory Miller Home Friday one of three a amps Gary Miller waving Small american flags Naples biathlon team runners Martha Deluca at the end of the Long Road Navy it. Jim Britton gets a Welcome Navy Petty officer 3rd class Delroy Reid and air Force master sgt. Bill in Naples from daughters Nea 4, and Melissa 5. Britton was Hoffmann reach the finishing Point at naval support activity Naples. Cyclists making the Denmark to Naples fund raising  go 2,100 Miles Over Hill Over Dale by Gary Miller Mediterranean Bureau Naples Italy a despite bad directions and blocked Mountain passes 14 runners and three cyclists arrived Home on time after a 2,100-mile fundraising biathlon from Northern Denmark. Problems began soon after the May 17 Start in the northernmost area of Denmark a Mainland. A we asked every Dane we saw where the ferry was and they Tola us there Wasny to any a said it. Jerry Hillen who organized the event. A we made a Detour Only to find out afterwards that the people we asked were right a there was no ferry. A there was a  the Naples biathlon team sponsored by Naples area commands and private organizations made the eight Day relay trip to raise Money for the Navy Relief society. Participants arrived Home Friday. A we got to Denmark about five hours ahead of schedule a said Hillen medical Supply officer at the Naples naval Hospital. A within the first 18 hours we were Well ahead of schedule. The first 12 hours the running team averaged about a 6-minute, 22-second  from Denmark the team went to West Germany where participants passed through bad Hersfeldt Fulda Wurzburg Ansbach Augsburg and Garmisch. Hillen was one of two people injured during the trip. Each of the three doctors at the army dispensary at Garmisch who examined him had a different diagnosis of his leg injury. Navy it. Jim Britton assigned to submarine group 8 in Naples suffered a scrape or Road rash when he fell off his bicycle. A we Rode a Little every Day but spent a lot More time Riding the last few Days of the trip when time had to be made up a said Britton who peddled about 400 Miles during the trip. A we can go about 2 la times faster than the  Britton and Petty officer 2nd class Rick Walkley a Hospital corpsman assigned to the Naples Hospital biked More than 100 Miles in the Alps. A cycling through the Alps was a lifelong dream of mine a Walkley said. A we planned to use the highest pass a the Road not the peaks a but the Road was 8,000 feet above sea  support team member it. Mike King a physicians assistant at the Naples Hospital discovered that the highest pass was closed. A we were driving up the Road and found a Chain across it. All we could see on the other Side was Snow and ice a King said. The team took another lower route through the Alps. Once through the Alps of Austria and Northern Italy the runners and bikers passed through Vicenza Rimini and Rieti on the Way to Naples. A i got a Little More sleep this time a said it. A1 Runzel who also ran in last years 1,736-Milc lon Don to Naples biathlon. A this time was More challenging. We went through a lot More Small towns where it was easy to get lost and communicating with team members was difficult Quot said the Navy nurse assigned to the Naples Hospital. A and we camped this year instead of staying in hotels so when we were done running or driving we were setting up and taking Down our  the team saved about $2,000 by camping this year Hillen said. Expenses for the biathlon amounted to about $3,000, which sponsors provided. Sponsors also provided five cars that groups of runners and bikers used to leapfrog Down the biathlon route. Four team members would drive to predetermined locations where other Biath loners would have completed their assigned portion of the route. The fresh group would take Over running or biking and be relieved four hours later. But the Relief groups were not always where they were supposed to be. A once my group ended up running for 6 a a hours a said capt. . Mccreary a member of Allied forces Southern Europe he air Force element. But Overall the biathlon went Well Mccreary said. A it was Well organized. The team really worked Well together Quot he said. Hillen said he did no to know How much Money the biathlon earned for Navy Relief but he Hopes it tops the $10,000 collected in last year s event. The team included runners and bikers from Navy Marine corps and air Force units in Naples and from Nas Simonella Sicily other participants were cmdr. Greg Bradford Ensign Devon Booth Seaman Heath Cheatham it. Jack Mcdonald it. Jack Sipe Petty officer 2nd class Lowell Lindley Marine corps Lance Cpl. Patrick Fahey Petty officer 2nd class James Lewis Petty officer 3rd class Delroy Reid air Force master sgt. Bill Hoffmann Navy wife Martha Deluca and it. Martha Ryan. It. Cmdr. Lee Cloninger and it. David Price were support team members