U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Joe Glime will commemorate the historic Bataan Death March by doing a three-day ruck to benefit the Florida-based non-profit. The fundraiser will take place Friday through Sunday in the Florence area.

K9s For Warriors is a charity that provides highly trained service dogs to veterans who suffer from PTSD, traumatic brain injury or other trauma. The K9/Warrior team bond can help with healing and recovery.

The majority of dogs used in the program are rescues, said Glime, who will retire from active duty Tuesday after seven years of service.

Glime learned about the program from his wife, Mia, who encouraged him to apply to get a service dog.

STAFF SGT. JOE GLIME

“Taking care of others has always been important to me, and seeing friends of mine suffer from their past has influenced me to do something to make a difference,” he said.

“This passion led me to reach out to K9s For Warriors to support their cause of supporting veterans,” Glime said.

The Bataan Death March was a transfer of 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war in 1942 from Mariveles 65 miles to San Fernando in the Philippines. Thousands of the prisoners died en route.

Each spring, a marathon-length 26.2-mile memorial march/run takes place in New Mexico, the home state of many of the American soldiers in Bataan. This year’s in-person event happens Saturday at the White Sands Missile Range.

Glime will do the ruck similar to the original, over three days. He will start Friday at The Filling Station in Florence, and go east on U.S. 2, then turn around at 13.1 miles the first day. The second day is a trek around Lake Antoine enough to add up to 26.2 miles, which is about five times.

The final day, he will march up and down Main Street in Florence until he hits the 12.6-mile mark — totaling 65 miles.

“A lot of people are reaching out to me asking if they can participate, but the first two days would be difficult because I will be going fast and also on the highway,” Glime said. “That’s why I decided to make it easy on the last day for anyone to join in.”

Anyone who wants to take part can on Sunday, as they can start and stop at any time.

For the past couple months Glime has been preparing for the ruck by going 10 to 20 miles once a week, he said.

His wife, Mia, will be his support throughout the three-day march.

Donations can be made by going to his Facebook event page “Joe Glime’s Memorial Bataan Death March” where a QR code and link can be found.

Glime will also accept cash or check donations at any point during his journey. He asks that donors provide their name to be included for K9s For Warriors.

“I appreciate all the support and donations for this great cause,” Glime said.

The 2017 Florence High School graduate is the son of Sue and Lance Glime of Florence.

He and his wife now live in Florence but plan to move to Colorado at the end of the month so he can pursue a doctorate in physical therapy this summer.