Reading, Pa. (May 1, 2011) – Alvernia University hosted the 2nd annual Wounded Warrior 5k Run to support the Wounded Warrior Project and the Keystone Wounded Warriors (KKW). Alvernia was successful in executing the first 5k run in 2010 with more than 400 participants showing their support. This year, over 600 participants were able to raise over $20,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project.
The run is hosted around the nation to honor and support the daily sacrifices made by the brave men and women in all branches of the United States Military. The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors by raising awareness and enlisting the public's aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women, as well as allowing each service member to assist one another and create unique programs for those who sacrificed for their fellow countrymen.
"This was a great opportunity for the local community to show support for our heroes that have paid such a heavy price for the cost of freedom,” said Captain Sam Johnson, the Director of KKW. “Keystone Wounded Warriors could not ask for a better partner than Jason Kilgore and the Alvernia University Track team. The support given by Jason and more than 50 volunteers from various Alvernia University teams makes our event possible every year."
Alvernia student-athletes from the Cross Country, Track & Field, Women's Lacrosse and Volleyball teams as well as Alvernia's Occupational Therapy Program and athletic administrators all worked to make the second year of the Wounded Warrior Run a success. The run started and ended at Alvernia's track and stretched to Angelica Park to complete the 3.1 mile run (5k), with some participants choosing to walk one mile to show their support.
In 2010, Alvernia University received the Josten's Community Service Award for its assistance in the Wounded Warrior 5k Run hosted at the university on May 1, 2010. It was a great achievement for both Alvernia and the local Wounded Warrior Project to be recognized for this outstanding cause in the first year of the run. This year, the event welcomed more than 200 more participants than the previous year and raised a substantial sum for the members of our military that risked their lives for their country.
