By Eagle Rare

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Eagle Rare Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey has named Marc Dibernardo of Clarksville, Tenn., as the winner of the 2014 Rare Life Heroism Award.

Eagle Rare will donate $4,000 to Dibernardo’s charity, Active Heroes – an organization Dibernardo partners with to help strengthen active duty military, veterans and their families by providing coping skills and managing triggering points that lead to suicide.

Dibernardo, a U.S. Army veteran, raises money for the foundation and brings awareness to the cause by running and biking in a variety of races wearing a pro mask (military gas mask). Dibernardo does it to “honor the last breath of the veterans who commit suicide.” On May 1, 2011, he broke the Guinness World Record for the fastest full marathon in a gas mask with a time of 3 hours and 49 minutes.

Dibernardo is stationed at Ft. Campbell, Ky. and earlier this year he biked the 235 miles to Eagle Rare Headquarters in Frankfort, Ky. in an effort to raise more money for Active Heroes Retreat in Shepherdsville, Ky. The retreat will fight post-traumatic stress disorder and aid in suicide prevention by teaching veterans and their families to heal through physical and mental therapy classes.

The Rare Life Award is an annual recognition program created to honor individuals who exhibit courage, leadership, survival, devotion, character and heroism. Candidates are nominated by friends, family and colleagues. Their stories and photos are posted online at www.eaglerarelife.com, where visitors vote on these inspirational stories.

Dibernardo was among the top 20 nominees, selected from 191 stories submitted through the Rare Life website. The Grand Prize 2014 Rare Life Award winner is Angie Goodwin, founder of Thumbs Up for Lane Goodwin Childhood Cancer Foundation. Goodwin will receive a $40,000 donation to her foundation, which supports childhood cancer research through funding and advocacy and assists families battling childhood cancer by providing education, financial assistance and a volunteer network.

Dibernardo was one of six runners-up receiving $4,000 to their charities of choice, with each runner-up awarded for embodying a distinct characteristic of a Rare Life: Courage, Leadership, Heroism, Character, Devotion and Survival. Eagle Rare’s prize donations for 2014 total $64,000.

For more information on the Rare Life Award or Eagle Rare Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, visit www.eaglerarelife.com.