Staffers from Andrews Federal Credit Union are getting in on theaction during this year's “mud run” at a New Jersey militarybase.

“This year for the first time we will have three teams ofemployees and friends running in the Sept.10 'Beast of the East'McGuire Mud Run,” said a spokeswoman for the $815 million,Maryland-based Andrews FCU. The race is the day before the 10-yearanniversary of 9/11 attacks.

The McGuire Mud Run is a 10K (6.2 mile) event on the Joint BaseMcGuire-Dix-Lakehurst property and covers a variety of terrainincluding asphalt, gravel, sand and mud. Obstacles include hurdles,low crawls and mud pits with teams of five runners, many wearingtheme costumes and required to start and finish the racetogether.

The purpose of the race, coordinated by the Burlington CountyMilitary Affairs Committee, has been to build “community teamwork”among civilian and military groups. Andrews FCU staffs a table atthe event providing CU service materials.

Apart from the McGuire Run, Andrews again is serving as sponsorfor the New Jersey Run for the Fallen slated Sept. 23-25 also atJoint McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and spread over a 154-mile coursestarting at Cape May. The race will finish Sept. 25 at the VietnamVeterans Memorial in Holmdel.

Each individual mile run is dedicated to a “New Jersey Hero”with team participants stopping at every Hero Marker to present aflag and personalized bio to waiting family and friends.

This year the race committee also hopes to fund an area at theVietnam Veterans' Memorial in Holmdel dedicated to Gold StarMothers, an organization of mothers who have lost a son or daughterduring military service.

“Andrews Federal Credit Union is proud to support the servicesmembers in the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst community and likethe military, we recognize the importance teamwork plays incompleting a successful mission,” said Chris McDonald,president/CEO at AndrewsFCU. “These events also serve to build internal relationshipsbetween our staff as well as with the greater community weserve.”