Military Uses Red River Rivalry To Help Afghanistan People

The News On 6

UNDATED -- Some U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan are using the "Red River Rivalry" to raise needed supplies to help Afghanistan.

The annual Red River Rivalry between OU and Texas is still a few weeks away, but Major Tobin Griffeth, a Texas fan and Captain Katie Illingworth, an OU alum, are using the big game for a friendly competition.         

Both soldiers are asking for donation boxes to help the people of Afghanistan. Whoever raises the most in their school's honor wins!

Each school gets a point if their supporters donate a box of items like school supplies, clothes and shoes to the people of Afghanistan.

"We started this because it's the right thing to do," Griffeth, a Texas, native and graduate of University of Texas, Arlington, said.

"In a war where we'll spend millions on bombs or missiles, it only makes sense to spend money on clothes, or socks."

They team with Army Task Forces on the ground and the local chaplaincy who often meet with local village elders, country-wide, to distribute the aid given from Texas and Oklahoma citizens.

War puts the rivalry game in perspective.

"It's somewhat trivial," Illingworth, an Oklahoma City native, and OU graduate said about the rivalry game back home.

"But, it's not as trivial as some think. Our rivalry is a big deal and this is a unique channel that allows people back home to support their teams and support America. The energy is there already; we're just trying to re-direct it somewhere else."

The group asks that no food or money be sent, but donations of winter clothes, school supplies and shoes are accepted.

Texas is currently in the lead, so Oklahomans are needed to rally to their school's support.

Donations can be sent via flat-rate priority boxes: CJTF-82-OSJA APO AE 09354, addressed to Major Griffeth for Texas or Captain Illingworth for OU.