Annual USO run to benefit servicemembers, Families

By Tina Ray
Paraglide

	Photo by Stephenie Tatum/Paraglide Runners and walkers take off from the starting line at the 2nd Annual USO Run for the Troops 5K in 2010 in Fayetteville.

The United Service Organizations of North Carolina will hold its third Annual Run for the Troops 5K, April 2, at 8:30 a.m.

The run will start at the Fayetteville Technical Community College. 
Advance registration will cost $25 for adults and $15 for children.  Race day registration will be $35 for adult and $15 for children.

USO of N.C. works to enrich the lives of servicemembers and their Families by providing them with morale, welfare and recreational services.

This year’s run will be presented by Purolator Filters, North America Limited Liability Corporation.
Proceeds from the run will sustain the programs and services offered to Fort Bragg and Pope Field servicemembers, said Renee Lane, the center’s director.

According to the USO of N.C. website, those programs include Smiles over Miles, which allows Families to make videos to send to deployed servicemembers; and United Through Reading, a program that enables servicemembers to read a story on video before deploying and have it delivered to their children while they are away.

“Serving such a large installation means that our Fort Bragg center must rely on events such as Run for the Troops and the generosity of private donors, corporate sponsors and grants to provide everything from snacks and drinks to large-scale deployment events and homecomings,” Lane said.

“We are thankful to have such a generous community surrounding the installation. People are happy to make a donation to support the run because in turn they are supporting our troops,” said Lane.

One such corporate sponsor is Purolator Filters, NA LLC. The company provided this year’s sponsorship because, this event provides Purolator the opportunity to show support of the troops while promoting wellness in our facility and the Fayetteville community, said Rob Malone, president and chief executive officer.

For more information about the USO of N.C. on Fort Bragg, located in Building M-4226, Goldberg St., visit www.uso-nc.org or call 495-1437.

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