The 2027 Clemson 8 Challenge
- Date Sat 20th February 2027 - Fri 9th April 2027
- Time 9:00AM EST
- Location Clemson, South Carolina
- Price Free - $43.40
- Races 6 races
Event summary
Join us for the exciting 2027 Clemson 8 Challenge, taking place on Saturday, February 20, 2027, at 10:00 AM around the scenic Clemson University campus in Clemson, South Carolina! This uplifting event invites participants to run, walk, bike, hike, swim, or ski in honor of the brave Clemson men of the Bataan Death March. Whether you choose to join us in person or participate virtually from February 20 to February 27, there's a challenge for everyone, including an 800-meter kids run, an 8K (4.97 miles) run/walk, and an 8-mile run/walk for both general participants and Clemson ROTC ruckers.
The Clemson 8 Challenge is not only about personal achievement but also about giving back, as 100% of the proceeds benefit Clemson University’s military-affiliated student organizations. Participants will have the chance to win exclusive swag from the Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon in New Mexico, adding an extra thrill to this meaningful event. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to honor our heroes, connect with the community, and challenge yourself. Register today and be part of a legacy that supports our military students while celebrating resilience and remembrance!
The Clemson 8 Challenge is not only about personal achievement but also about giving back, as 100% of the proceeds benefit Clemson University’s military-affiliated student organizations. Participants will have the chance to win exclusive swag from the Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon in New Mexico, adding an extra thrill to this meaningful event. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to honor our heroes, connect with the community, and challenge yourself. Register today and be part of a legacy that supports our military students while celebrating resilience and remembrance!
Organiser's Description
The 2027 Clemson 8 Challenge
Run, walk, bike, hike, swim or ski to honor the Clemson men of the Bataan Death March, in person on campus or virtually from anywhere.
Saturday, February 20, 2027 . Clemson University Campus . Clemson, SC
About the Race
Mark your calendar! We are hosting an in-person, OFFICIALLY TIMED RACE AT 10:00 AM ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2027, around the Clemson University campus, plus a virtual race from February 20 to February 27, 2027. The Challenge is open to the general public.
Complete your own run, walk, bike, hike, swim or ski in Clemson, S.C., or on your own course in your own town, in one day or spread across the eight days. High school JROTC teams have until April 9 to complete their challenge.
EVERY RACE-DAY PARTICIPANT WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN SWAG FROM THE BATAAN MEMORIAL DEATH MARCH MARATHON IN NEW MEXICO.
Race Day Details
Date
Saturday, February 20, 2027
Start Time
10:00 AM (in-person, officially timed)
Location
Around the Clemson University campus
101 Gantt Cir, Clemson, SC 29634
Virtual Window
February 20 - February 27, 2027
High School JROTC Team
Teams have until April 9 to complete their challenge
Clemson Students
Please use your LOCAL address when registering, not your home address.
The Events
800 Meter Kids Run
A race day run for the kids. Includes a 100% cotton short-sleeve T-shirt.
8K (4.97 miles) Run/Walk
The in-person 8K around the Clemson campus. Includes a 100% cotton long- or short-sleeve T-shirt or tank top.
8 Mile Run/Walk
The full in-person 8 miles. Includes a 100% cotton long- or short-sleeve T-shirt or tank top.
8 Mile Run/Walk (Clemson ROTC Ruckers)
The in-person 8 miles for Clemson ROTC ruckers.
8 Mile Virtual Run/Walk
Cover your 8 miles anywhere between February 27 and March 6, 2027. Includes a 100% cotton long- or short-sleeve T-shirt or tank top.
Current prices are shown when you click Sign Up.
Course
The in-person race runs around the Clemson University campus. Virtual participants can choose their own course in their own town.
Start/Finish on Google Maps [https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=101+Gantt+Cir%2C+Clemson%2C+SC+29634]
What's Included
Your participant packet includes:
* A 100% cotton T-shirt
* A wooden nickel
* A race bib
* A window decal
red heart Supporting Clemson's Military-Affiliated Students
100% OF THE PROCEEDS BENEFIT CLEMSON UNIVERSITY'S MILITARY-AFFILIATED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS. The first six Challenges raised $139,628.54 for scholarships. The 2027 goal is to raise $19,420 because 1942 was the year of the Bataan Death March.
Dividends from the endowment and your donations help pay for multiple teams to compete in the Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon in New Mexico on March 20, 2027.
How to Give
* Add a donation online during your registration.
* For a tax deduction, contact Amy Craft at the Clemson University Foundation, MondayFriday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM EST, at 864-656-1240 or through the contact form on this page.
* Or mail a check to: Clemson University Foundation, Attn: Amy Craft, P.O. Box 1889, Clemson, SC 29633. On the memo line, write: BATAAN ENDOWMENT.
Give Online [https://iamatiger.clemson.edu/giving/giving-to-clemson?id=9ed46b59-6d7e-4b16-88c6-961984a7efe0]
Why We Run: The Story of the Clemson 8
On April 9, 1942, six Clemson alumni became prisoners of war with tens of thousands of their brothers-in-arms when American troops fighting in the Philippine theater of WWII were ordered to surrender to the Japanese. They were marched north some 70 miles by their ruthless captors in what came to be known as the Bataan Death March, one of the most notorious war crimes in history. Seven other alumni were also captured on neighboring islands during World War II.
Already weak and starving from months of intense fighting and illness, the POWs were herded with other sick, wounded and starving soldiers through the searing heat of the Philippine jungles. Thousands died. Those who survived the march then had to survive years in the inhumane and brutal conditions of Japanese prisoner-of-war camps, and the sinking by our own Navy of unmarked prison ships carrying POWs toward the mainland near the end of the war. It is estimated that at least 57 percent of the captured Americans, more than 11,500 souls, did not survive the war, a number most experts consider very conservative.
Colonel Skardon, 104, was the last living member of this illustrious group. He was well known as the only survivor of the real Bataan Death March who walked in the annual Bataan Memorial Death March (BMDM) at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., one of the toughest and most popular ultramarathons in the world. The event has become a pilgrimage for veterans, active-duty military members, supporters, the few remaining survivors, and the families of the men who perished in the march and POW camps.
Colonel Skardon walked in the BMDM 12 times, most often 8.5 miles, beginning in 2007 when he was 89. In 2019, at 101, he walked more than three miles through the desert to honor his brothers-in-arms who did not return. He considered it his duty. He was on his way to walk again in 2021 when the event was canceled due to the pandemic. In response, a team of students, veterans, alumni and friends created the Clemson 8 Challenge so Colonel Skardon could continue his pilgrimage from his home in Clemson. THE 8 REPRESENTS THE ANNUAL MILES COLONEL SKARDON WALKED to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in one of the most brutal wartime events in history.
On Thursday, November 11, 2021 (Veterans Day), Colonel Skardon was awarded a star in a private ceremony and the rank of Honorary Brigadier General. On Monday, November 15, 2021, General Skardon passed away.
Clemson's Prisoners of War
There are 29 known Clemson graduates and 3 former students who were POWs. Among them:
World War II: Pacific
* Army Air Force Captain Theodore Cuyler Bigger '34, York County, S.C. Captured by the Japanese and survived the Bataan Death March.
* Army 1LT Martin Crook, Jr. '39, Spartanburg, S.C. Captured by the Japanese and survived the Bataan Death March.
* Army Captain William R. English '37, Columbia, S.C. Captured by the Japanese on Cebu Island.
* Army Major Albert M. George '36, Aiken, S.C. Captured by the Japanese on the island of Mindanao.
* Army Colonel Louis D. Hutson '13, Aiken, S.C. Captured by the Japanese after being wounded on Bataan.
* Army Captain Marion R. Manny Lawton '40, Garnett, S.C. Captured by the Japanese and survived the Bataan Death March.
* Army Captain Henry D. Leitner '37, Greenwood, S.C. Captured by the Japanese and survived the Bataan Death March.
* Army 1LT Otis F. Morgan '38, Laurens, S.C. Captured by the Japanese on the island of Corregidor.
* Army Lt. Colonel William Allen Orr '38, Anderson, S.C. Captured by the Japanese and survived the Bataan Death March.
* Marine Captain Wesley McCoy Platt '35, Summerville, S.C. Captured by the Japanese on Wake Island.
* Army Air Force Captain Francis Herbert Scarborough '39, Bishopville, S.C. Captured by the Japanese on the island of Corregidor.
* Army Captain Beverly N. Ben Skardon '38, Walterboro, S.C. Captured by the Japanese and survived the Bataan Death March.
* Army 1LT Howard Monroe Vassey '40, Chesnee, S.C. Captured by the Japanese on the island of Corregidor.
World War II: Europe
* Army Air Force LT Robert Herman Berly, Jr., Lexington, S.C. Attended classes in 1942. Captured by the Germans after his B-24 was shot down in Hungary.
* Army PFC Thomas Whitfield Dunaway, Jr. '49, Thomaston, Ga. Went missing in action in France on Nov. 13, 1944. Captured by the Germans.
* Army 2LT George Albert Henry '45, Spartanburg, S.C. Captured by the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge.
* Army Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Lake Hugh Jameson, Sr. '42, Easley, S.C. Captured by the Germans.
* Army Staff Sgt. George W. Jones, Loris, S.C. Attended classes in 1941. Captured by the Germans.
* Army PFC Joseph Lawrence King '47, Columbia, S.C. Captured by the Germans during the Battle of Orscholz.
* Army Corporal Horace Gordon Meisner, Jr. '46, Savannah, Ga. Captured by the Germans in the Ardennes.
* Army Air Force Captain William Henry Mooney, Jr. '41, Hawkinsville, Ga. Captured by the Germans when his P-51 was shot down near Fulda, Germany.
Read Their Stories on the Scroll of Honor
Martin Crook, Jr. [https://soh.alumni.clemson.edu/scroll/martin-crook-jr/]William R. English [https://soh.alumni.clemson.edu/scroll/william-robins-english/]Henry D. Leitner [https://soh.alumni.clemson.edu/scroll/henry-daniel-leitner/]Otis F. Morgan [https://soh.alumni.clemson.edu/scroll/otis-foster-morgan/]Wesley McCoy Platt [https://soh.alumni.clemson.edu/scroll/wesley-mccoy-platt/]Francis H. Scarborough [https://soh.alumni.clemson.edu/scroll/francis-herbert-scarborough/]Horace G. Meisner, Jr. [https://soh.alumni.clemson.edu/scroll/horace-gordon-meisner-jr/]William H. Mooney, Jr. [https://soh.alumni.clemson.edu/scroll-of-honor/search/?hname=mooney&conflict=none&yr=none&service=none]
information Keep Going
After registering for the Clemson 8 Challenge, everyone is encouraged to keep training and take part in the 2027 in-person or virtual edition of the 38th Annual Bataan Memorial Death March.
To learn more about those from Clemson A&M College and Clemson University who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, visit the Clemson University Scroll of Honor.
Bataan Memorial Death March [https://bataanmarch.com/]Clemson Scroll of Honor [https://soh.alumni.clemson.edu/]
Become a Sponsor
Interested in sponsoring the race? Contact John Seketa through the contact form on this page or at 864-903-1487 for more information.
Let's Stay Connected
Questions? Use the contact form or tap the chat button in the corner.
Contact the Race Director [https://runsignup.com/Race/SC/Clemson/ClemsonEightBataanDeathMarchRemembrance#contactFormSection]
Run, walk, bike, hike, swim or ski to honor the Clemson men of the Bataan Death March, in person on campus or virtually from anywhere.
Saturday, February 20, 2027 . Clemson University Campus . Clemson, SC
About the Race
Mark your calendar! We are hosting an in-person, OFFICIALLY TIMED RACE AT 10:00 AM ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2027, around the Clemson University campus, plus a virtual race from February 20 to February 27, 2027. The Challenge is open to the general public.
Complete your own run, walk, bike, hike, swim or ski in Clemson, S.C., or on your own course in your own town, in one day or spread across the eight days. High school JROTC teams have until April 9 to complete their challenge.
EVERY RACE-DAY PARTICIPANT WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN SWAG FROM THE BATAAN MEMORIAL DEATH MARCH MARATHON IN NEW MEXICO.
Race Day Details
Date
Saturday, February 20, 2027
Start Time
10:00 AM (in-person, officially timed)
Location
Around the Clemson University campus
101 Gantt Cir, Clemson, SC 29634
Virtual Window
February 20 - February 27, 2027
High School JROTC Team
Teams have until April 9 to complete their challenge
Clemson Students
Please use your LOCAL address when registering, not your home address.
The Events
800 Meter Kids Run
A race day run for the kids. Includes a 100% cotton short-sleeve T-shirt.
8K (4.97 miles) Run/Walk
The in-person 8K around the Clemson campus. Includes a 100% cotton long- or short-sleeve T-shirt or tank top.
8 Mile Run/Walk
The full in-person 8 miles. Includes a 100% cotton long- or short-sleeve T-shirt or tank top.
8 Mile Run/Walk (Clemson ROTC Ruckers)
The in-person 8 miles for Clemson ROTC ruckers.
8 Mile Virtual Run/Walk
Cover your 8 miles anywhere between February 27 and March 6, 2027. Includes a 100% cotton long- or short-sleeve T-shirt or tank top.
Current prices are shown when you click Sign Up.
Course
The in-person race runs around the Clemson University campus. Virtual participants can choose their own course in their own town.
Start/Finish on Google Maps [https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=101+Gantt+Cir%2C+Clemson%2C+SC+29634]
What's Included
Your participant packet includes:
* A 100% cotton T-shirt
* A wooden nickel
* A race bib
* A window decal
red heart Supporting Clemson's Military-Affiliated Students
100% OF THE PROCEEDS BENEFIT CLEMSON UNIVERSITY'S MILITARY-AFFILIATED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS. The first six Challenges raised $139,628.54 for scholarships. The 2027 goal is to raise $19,420 because 1942 was the year of the Bataan Death March.
Dividends from the endowment and your donations help pay for multiple teams to compete in the Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon in New Mexico on March 20, 2027.
How to Give
* Add a donation online during your registration.
* For a tax deduction, contact Amy Craft at the Clemson University Foundation, MondayFriday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM EST, at 864-656-1240 or through the contact form on this page.
* Or mail a check to: Clemson University Foundation, Attn: Amy Craft, P.O. Box 1889, Clemson, SC 29633. On the memo line, write: BATAAN ENDOWMENT.
Give Online [https://iamatiger.clemson.edu/giving/giving-to-clemson?id=9ed46b59-6d7e-4b16-88c6-961984a7efe0]
Why We Run: The Story of the Clemson 8
On April 9, 1942, six Clemson alumni became prisoners of war with tens of thousands of their brothers-in-arms when American troops fighting in the Philippine theater of WWII were ordered to surrender to the Japanese. They were marched north some 70 miles by their ruthless captors in what came to be known as the Bataan Death March, one of the most notorious war crimes in history. Seven other alumni were also captured on neighboring islands during World War II.
Already weak and starving from months of intense fighting and illness, the POWs were herded with other sick, wounded and starving soldiers through the searing heat of the Philippine jungles. Thousands died. Those who survived the march then had to survive years in the inhumane and brutal conditions of Japanese prisoner-of-war camps, and the sinking by our own Navy of unmarked prison ships carrying POWs toward the mainland near the end of the war. It is estimated that at least 57 percent of the captured Americans, more than 11,500 souls, did not survive the war, a number most experts consider very conservative.
Colonel Skardon, 104, was the last living member of this illustrious group. He was well known as the only survivor of the real Bataan Death March who walked in the annual Bataan Memorial Death March (BMDM) at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., one of the toughest and most popular ultramarathons in the world. The event has become a pilgrimage for veterans, active-duty military members, supporters, the few remaining survivors, and the families of the men who perished in the march and POW camps.
Colonel Skardon walked in the BMDM 12 times, most often 8.5 miles, beginning in 2007 when he was 89. In 2019, at 101, he walked more than three miles through the desert to honor his brothers-in-arms who did not return. He considered it his duty. He was on his way to walk again in 2021 when the event was canceled due to the pandemic. In response, a team of students, veterans, alumni and friends created the Clemson 8 Challenge so Colonel Skardon could continue his pilgrimage from his home in Clemson. THE 8 REPRESENTS THE ANNUAL MILES COLONEL SKARDON WALKED to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in one of the most brutal wartime events in history.
On Thursday, November 11, 2021 (Veterans Day), Colonel Skardon was awarded a star in a private ceremony and the rank of Honorary Brigadier General. On Monday, November 15, 2021, General Skardon passed away.
Clemson's Prisoners of War
There are 29 known Clemson graduates and 3 former students who were POWs. Among them:
World War II: Pacific
* Army Air Force Captain Theodore Cuyler Bigger '34, York County, S.C. Captured by the Japanese and survived the Bataan Death March.
* Army 1LT Martin Crook, Jr. '39, Spartanburg, S.C. Captured by the Japanese and survived the Bataan Death March.
* Army Captain William R. English '37, Columbia, S.C. Captured by the Japanese on Cebu Island.
* Army Major Albert M. George '36, Aiken, S.C. Captured by the Japanese on the island of Mindanao.
* Army Colonel Louis D. Hutson '13, Aiken, S.C. Captured by the Japanese after being wounded on Bataan.
* Army Captain Marion R. Manny Lawton '40, Garnett, S.C. Captured by the Japanese and survived the Bataan Death March.
* Army Captain Henry D. Leitner '37, Greenwood, S.C. Captured by the Japanese and survived the Bataan Death March.
* Army 1LT Otis F. Morgan '38, Laurens, S.C. Captured by the Japanese on the island of Corregidor.
* Army Lt. Colonel William Allen Orr '38, Anderson, S.C. Captured by the Japanese and survived the Bataan Death March.
* Marine Captain Wesley McCoy Platt '35, Summerville, S.C. Captured by the Japanese on Wake Island.
* Army Air Force Captain Francis Herbert Scarborough '39, Bishopville, S.C. Captured by the Japanese on the island of Corregidor.
* Army Captain Beverly N. Ben Skardon '38, Walterboro, S.C. Captured by the Japanese and survived the Bataan Death March.
* Army 1LT Howard Monroe Vassey '40, Chesnee, S.C. Captured by the Japanese on the island of Corregidor.
World War II: Europe
* Army Air Force LT Robert Herman Berly, Jr., Lexington, S.C. Attended classes in 1942. Captured by the Germans after his B-24 was shot down in Hungary.
* Army PFC Thomas Whitfield Dunaway, Jr. '49, Thomaston, Ga. Went missing in action in France on Nov. 13, 1944. Captured by the Germans.
* Army 2LT George Albert Henry '45, Spartanburg, S.C. Captured by the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge.
* Army Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Lake Hugh Jameson, Sr. '42, Easley, S.C. Captured by the Germans.
* Army Staff Sgt. George W. Jones, Loris, S.C. Attended classes in 1941. Captured by the Germans.
* Army PFC Joseph Lawrence King '47, Columbia, S.C. Captured by the Germans during the Battle of Orscholz.
* Army Corporal Horace Gordon Meisner, Jr. '46, Savannah, Ga. Captured by the Germans in the Ardennes.
* Army Air Force Captain William Henry Mooney, Jr. '41, Hawkinsville, Ga. Captured by the Germans when his P-51 was shot down near Fulda, Germany.
Read Their Stories on the Scroll of Honor
Martin Crook, Jr. [https://soh.alumni.clemson.edu/scroll/martin-crook-jr/]William R. English [https://soh.alumni.clemson.edu/scroll/william-robins-english/]Henry D. Leitner [https://soh.alumni.clemson.edu/scroll/henry-daniel-leitner/]Otis F. Morgan [https://soh.alumni.clemson.edu/scroll/otis-foster-morgan/]Wesley McCoy Platt [https://soh.alumni.clemson.edu/scroll/wesley-mccoy-platt/]Francis H. Scarborough [https://soh.alumni.clemson.edu/scroll/francis-herbert-scarborough/]Horace G. Meisner, Jr. [https://soh.alumni.clemson.edu/scroll/horace-gordon-meisner-jr/]William H. Mooney, Jr. [https://soh.alumni.clemson.edu/scroll-of-honor/search/?hname=mooney&conflict=none&yr=none&service=none]
information Keep Going
After registering for the Clemson 8 Challenge, everyone is encouraged to keep training and take part in the 2027 in-person or virtual edition of the 38th Annual Bataan Memorial Death March.
To learn more about those from Clemson A&M College and Clemson University who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, visit the Clemson University Scroll of Honor.
Bataan Memorial Death March [https://bataanmarch.com/]Clemson Scroll of Honor [https://soh.alumni.clemson.edu/]
Become a Sponsor
Interested in sponsoring the race? Contact John Seketa through the contact form on this page or at 864-903-1487 for more information.
Let's Stay Connected
Questions? Use the contact form or tap the chat button in the corner.
Contact the Race Director [https://runsignup.com/Race/SC/Clemson/ClemsonEightBataanDeathMarchRemembrance#contactFormSection]
Races
-
800 Meter Kids Run
Incl. $1.78 Fee & 100% Cotton Short T-Shirt
Sat 20th February 2027 (9:00AM EST)
$14.78
OPENS 11 NOV -
8K (4.97 Miles) Run/Walk
Incl. $2.32 Fee
Sat 20th February 2027 (9:00AM EST)
$24.32
OPENS 11 NOVCLEMSON STUDENTS - USE YOUR LOCAL ADDRESS AND NOT YOUR HOME ADDRESS. -
8 Mile Run/Walk
Incl. $3.40 Fee & 100% Cotton Long or Short T-Shirt or Tank Top
Sat 20th February 2027 (9:00AM EST)
$43.40
OPENS 11 NOVCLEMSON STUDENTS - USE YOUR LOCAL ADDRESS AND NOT YOUR HOME ADDRESS. This was the number of miles that Colonel Skardon used to walk at the Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon in New Mexico. He did this 13 times from ages 89 to 101. -
8 Mile Run/Walk (Clemson ROTC Ruckers)
Sat 20th February 2027 (9:00AM EST)
Free
OPENS 11 NOVCURRENT CLEMSON ARMY & AIR FORCE CADETS WILL RECEIVE A COMPLEMENTARY T-SHIRT THE WEEK OF THE RACE. This was the number of miles that Colonel Skardon used to walk at the Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon in New Mexico. He did this 13 times from ages 89 to 101. -
8 Mile Virtual Run/Walk
Incl. $3.40 Fee & 100% Cotton Long or Short T-Shirt or Tank Top
$43.40
OPENS 11 NOVThis was the number of miles that Colonel Skardon used to walk at the Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon in New Mexico. He did this 13 times from ages 89 to 101. You can do your miles all in one day or over eight days. -
8 Mile JROTC
Incl. $2.50 Fee & Banner
$27.50
OPENS 11 NOVThis was the number of miles that Colonel Skardon used to walk at the Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon in New Mexico. He did this 13 times from ages 89 to 101. You can do your miles all in one day or over eight days.
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101 Gantt Cir, Clemson, 29634, SC, United States
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The 2027 Clemson 8 Challenge
