Life is a RACE Published Sept. 3, 2015 By Senior Airman Erin O'Shea 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- In 1998, Dale Mace wanted to create an environment to help middle and high school students interact and help minimize the anxiety that comes with the first day of school. Mace originally created "The RACE" in Florida, and then brought it to RAF Lakenheath where it has now been active for eight years. He currently serves as the RAF Lakenheath Club Beyond associate staff member. Club Beyond is as a ministry catered to middle and high school-aged students whose parents are serving in the U.S. military. "The goal is to contribute to family readiness and student resiliency by getting them engaged quickly and helping alleviate stress and anxiety about the first day of school," said Beth Landrum, RAF Lakenheath Club Beyond community director. During the month of August, veteran student participants are evenly distributed into four colored teams; green, yellow, red and blue. They're then given the responsibility to recruit students around the tri-base area to join their teams and participate in a competitive month-long event. "People are important," said Mace. "Every teenager that walks onto this base needs to know they're important, and this program reinforces telling them that they're important to someone." There were 12 team leaders involved in this year's event, nine of which were active duty, who met with their teams each week to make posters and socialize with each other. "This program has made it so much easier on our military kids who have to deal with constant change and stress," said Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Aucoin, 48th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron unit training manager. "All of the leaders give these kids a positive safe place to have fun and just be kids. It's an amazing experience and humbling opportunity to lead them all. " Not only do the events contribute to spiritual resiliency, but also fulfill the requirements of the social, mental and physical pillars. Although the chapel sponsored program focuses mainly on spiritual resiliency, according to Landrum, the games are designed to be both physically and strategically challenging. "The games are designed to realize we're not designed to live life alone, or to live life isolated," Landrum said. "This gives them a real-world example, and in life, it's not about coming in first. It's about holding on when you want to give up, and we're here to support them on that." According to Mace, because the teams are mixed with both middle and high school students, others see their value is not based on what grade they're in or what they have achieved, but is based on the fact that they're a person and their presence within the team is important. "That awkward first day of school is no longer awkward," Dale stated. "They have a green shirt on, they're on my team, and you become friends. You have that in common with each other, and that's an instant bond."