Staff Writer
Baylor’s Arnold Air Society and members of Air Force and Army ROTC groups are set to give back to America’s veterans by hosting the second annual Waco Wounded Veterans Run.
Starting 8 a.m. Saturday at Lake Waco Dam, the Baylor and Waco community will come together for a 5K run in support of a non-profit organization that helps injured veterans. Registration for the event is available online at wacowoundedveteransrun.webs.com until the hour of the race.
Frisco junior Kim Bray, an AFROTC cadet who helped with the run last year, said the money raised for registration will all go to the Wounded Warrior Project.
“It’s a nonprofit that helps injured veterans who have sacrificed for their country,” Bray said.
Registration fees are $30 for the general public and $25 for students and past or present military.
According to the Wounded Warrior Project website, for every U.S. soldier killed, seven are wounded. Combined, over 48,000 servicemen and women have been physically injured in recent military conflicts.
Bray said with the great response the run had last year, she is looking forward to raising more money to help veterans.
“It was awesome last year,” she said. “We had over 200 participants and raised over $3,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project.”
Bray said while the run is not necessarily a race, participants will be divided by age and gender and the top three in each section who finish first will receive medals.
“The coolest part of this is that there are people who have been injured that participate and sometimes they’re even faster than me,” Bray said.
Scranton, Pa. senior Ken Skelton, a coordinator for the run, said he thinks the best thing about having this run is raising funds for such an important cause.
“That’s what makes this really unique,” Skelton said, who is also part of Baylor AFROTC. “We’re doing this just for service and it’s really special.”
