Flora-Bama's Beach Run Walk for America's Warriors Raises $11,854 for Special Operations Warrior Foundation

Flora-Bama hosted it's 10th Annual Beach Run/Walk for America's Warriors this past Saturday, March 18th, 2023. 100% of race registrations for this event go to Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

SOWF ensures complete post-secondary educational support and additional educational opportunities “cradle to career,” for eligible surviving children of fallen Special Operations Personnel and children of all Medal of Honor Recipients; and provides immediate financial assistance to severely wounded, ill, and injured Special Operations Personnel — today and in the future.

Race participants ran on the beach behind Flora-Bama opting to either run a 1/2 marathon towards Florida or a 5K towards Alabama. Post race, Flora-Bama hosts the after party with live music, food and drinks, along with an awards ceremony. Each year a family is honored and their loved one who lost their life is remembered. This year our race was dedicated to Captain Richard "Richie" Cliff. Read his bio below:

CLIFF, Richard Capt. Richard G. Cliff, Jr., 29, of Sanford, NC, was killed September 29,

2008, while conducting a combat reconnaissance patrol in the vicinity of Yakhchal,

Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of combat operations while serving with

Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He deployed in support

of Operation Enduring Freedom in September, 2008, as a member of the Combined

Joint Special Operations Task Force Afghanistan. This was his third deployment in

support of the Global War on Terror and his first deployment to Afghanistan.

Captain Cliff was a Special Forces Operational Detachment - Alpha Team Commander.

Cliff was a native of Mount Pleasant, S.C. and graduated from Wando High School in

1997. He was commissioned in June, 2002, after graduating from Appalachian State

University in Boone, NC.

At Appalachian State Richie was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and ROTC.

Richie began his military career at Ft. Benning, GA, where he completed the Infantry

Officer Basic Course. His first assignment was Ft. Lewis, Washington, where he was a

platoon leader with the 5th Battalion 20th Infantry Stryker Brigade Combat Team. He

deployed with them to Iraq in 2003, and again in 2006, as a company Executive Officer.

Cliff then went to Ft. Benning, GA where he completed the Maneuver Captains Career

Course. He began the Special Forces Qualification Course June, 2007, and he earned

the coveted Green Beret in July, 2008. Cliff's military education includes the Maneuver

Captains Career Course, Infantry Officer Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and

Escape Course, Basic Airborne Course, Ranger Course, and Special Forces Qualification

Course. Richie also became bilingual, learning Spanish while at the Qualification Course.

His awards and decorations include four Army Commendation Medals (one for valor),

the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan

Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary

Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the

Overseas Service Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge,

the Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab and the Special Forces Tab.

In his spare time Richie was an avid surfer with his favorite local spot being Folly Beach.

He traveled to Costa Rica, Hawaii and surf spots up and down the Atlantic and Pacific

coasts. He enjoyed days spent on his boat, wakeboarding with friends, and hitting the

slopes with his brother, Eddie. Richie also climbed to the summit of Mt. Rainier in

Washington state while stationed at Ft. Lewis.

Richie loved life and enjoyed every day to the fullest. He had an amazing sense of

humor, always playing practical jokes on his friends. His laugh was so infectious and

luckily for those around him, he laughed a lot. Richie made friends with ease, becoming

friends with everyone he met. He never had a bad thing to say about anyone. He was

driven to succeed and excelled at every endeavor. His friends describe him as loyal and

kind, a born leader.

Cliff is survived by his wife, Stacy Wagoner Cliff, who he married in August, 2003; an

infant son, Richard Sanders Cliff, born September 4, 2008, both of Sanford, NC; his

parents Julie and Rich Cliff, Sr.; and a brother, Eddie Cliff, all of Mount Pleasant, SC;

uncles, George Cliff and wife Linda of Columbus, GA, Bill Cliff and wife Penny of

Thomaston, GA, Brownie Sanders and wife Brenda of Charleston, and Edward Sanders

and wife Susan, of Charleston, SC, several cousins and many friends.

– DE OPPRESSO LIBER –

Watch Recap Video HERE: https://youtu.be/B6ulf6tdcTY