More than 560 people stepped up to participate in the 11th Annual Viking Challenge, hosted by the Kaiserslautern Military Community 5/6 on July 31, 2017 at the Vogelweh Track near Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The Viking Challenge is a 24-hour run/walk-a-thon that raises money for the Landstuhl Fisher House, the USO, Kindergraves and other organizations within the KMC.

Runners showcased their team spirit as they logged 24,179 laps totaling a whopping 6,045 miles – and raised over $12,000 within the first few hours in pledges from sponsors. Last year’s Viking Challenge raised an estimated $20,000 in donations to the Landstuhl Fisher House – and although final fundraising results aren’t tallied until Aug. 18, donations are expected to top that figure this year.

Photos provided courtesy of Kenneth Welch. Check out KMC 5/6's Facebook page for more pics.

The Landstuhl Fisher House provides a “home away from home” for the families of patients undergoing treatment at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC). LRMC is the largest American hospital outside the United States, providing specialized care for more than 250,000 American military personnel and their families in the European Theater.

The Landstuhl Fisher House receives a significant portion of their funding through charitable contributions, such as the KMC 5/6’s Viking Challenge.

If you would like to donate, you can:

• Mail donations to: Landstuhl Fisher Houses, CMR 402, APO AE 09180,

• Click here to make donations online, (please select Fisher House at Landstuhl, Germany from the drop-down menu)

• Or, get more information by calling Civilian 06371-61833-11 or DSN 486-6630.