Sheriff's department invades China

Six veteran members of the Ventura County Sheriff's Department traveled to Beijing, China, recently to run the Great Wall Marathon to raise money for local charities. The May 19 event consisted of a 26.2-mile footrace, with nearly half the race involving running the estimated 3,700 stone steps on the Great Wall.

Capt. Randy Pentis, Capt. Tim Hagel, Sgt. Frank Underlin, Sgt. Paul Higgason, Sgt. Dave Kenney and Dep. Peter Frank participated in the race.

The team trained for the event by logging 30 to 45 miles per week as well as running thousands of steps at the Camarillo High School Stadium.

"This year we are focusing on children's charities," said Pentis, who founded the organization Cops Running For Charity. "We do this because we are in the caring business. We also enjoy the physical and mental challenge of the run."

Corporate sponsors have pledged money, which the organization will distribute to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Pentis' brother, Cmdr. Gary Pentis, traveled to China to support the team. Randy Pentis bought his brother a pink sweatshirt with the words "Team Mom" printed on it.

Next year the team will travel to Namibia in Southwestern Africa to climb the dunes of the Namib Desert in a fourday, fourmarathon event.