Running as one at the 6th Escape from the Tower Run

Following a day of rain that caused concern among the organizers, crisp morning air and brilliant sunshine welcomed the large turnout of participants for the sixth annual "Escape from the Tower" challenge. Set against the backdrop of the famous Leaning Tower, the event kicked off an 8.6-mile historic run leading straight to Camp Darby.
Among the runners, US Army Garrison Italy Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Paluso had traveled down from Vicenza to show his support.
Looking around at the diverse assembly of soldiers, airmen, guardians, local Carabinieri, Italian Army personnel from the Base Command, and regional military units, Paluso said: "This tells me we are doing things right," he said. "The more people we have supporting this event, the more it means we come together. Everything we do here is community-based; whether it's a military mission or working with our military partners, we are here together, working together." He also wanted to underline that the community came together for recent 9/11 commemorations, noting that this is another moment that brings the community together.
That team-first attitude was on display, from the leaders to the organizers.
"I am the liaison with the Italian military units, so I help out during the organization. This is a great opportunity to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our counterparts not only during mission but just for fun,” said Italian Base Command Junior NCO Giacinto Tufilli. “What is important does not matter who is in charge or if we are different branches, all that counts is we are all in this together."
For Maj. Jalyssa Walker with the 405th Army Field Support Battalion Africa, the event also marked a memorable milestone. "This is my first community event here at Camp Darby, so it is pretty awesome," Walker said. “Experiencing the camaraderie makes me feel immediately part of the team. Just because we are small, doesn’t mean we don’t get the job done; I like to say small but mighty."
As soon as the signal dropped, the whole group took off. The course challenged everyone, testing their endurance, drive, and teamwork while mixing individual effort with community energy.
Mattia Bevilacqua crossed the finish line first overall with a fast time of 45.56 minutes. Close behind, Chiara Vacchetto was the first female finisher, coming in just a little over an hour.
The Darby Military Community took home the top prize for the fastest overall group time, proving that running as a united team matters just as much as individual speed.
Right after the race, the community gathered at the Darby Community Center for a comedy show offered by Armed Forces Entertainment, keeping the high spirits rolling long after crossing the finish line.

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