Half Marathon set for Saturday in Jacksonville

Hope for the Warriors

	File photo

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — The 5th Annual Run For The Warriors® will be bigger and better this year, with a new location in Jacksonville, N.C. and a half marathon race distance. The event, which will take place Saturday, also offers one-mile, 5K, and 10K distances and will start and finish at Jacksonville High School. The 5K, 10K and half marathon distances will be U.S. Track and Field certified. The half marathon will run through the Northwoods area, as well as parts of the city of Jacksonville.

In keeping with tradition, the day will begin with an opening ceremony to honor local heroes injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. All proceeds from the race will benefit Hope For The Warriors®, a locally founded, national non-profit that supports wounded U.S. servicemembers, their Families, and Families of the fallen.

A Jacksonville tradition, the Run For The Warriors® won the Onslow County Board of Tourism’s Event of the Year award in 2007, 2008 and 2009. The race will also be part of the 2010 Semper Fit Marine Corps Grand Prix race series. Registration is available now at www.runforthewarriors.org.

This year’s race features a race expo at Jacksonville High School Stadium, with local businesses on hand to show their support and market their wares. The expo will run during Friday’s Packet Pick Up from 3 to 7 p.m., as well as during the races on Saturday morning, from 7 to 11 a.m.
Among this year’s race participants is Sgt. Evan Van Nostrand, a recipient of the Purple Heart, who is running the half marathon to raise funds and awareness for Hope For The Warriors®. Van Nostrand is currently the race’s leading fundraiser, with more than $5,000 already pledged and more support coming in daily. Plus, he’ll wear a 40-pound rucksack to represent the Marines he’s supporting.

“It is my privilege and honor to be doing this and to help America’s true heroes out,” said Van Nostrand.

Sunnie McCarthy, both a Marine spouse and Marine mom, will speak about her five-year involvement with the race and the impact it’s had on her family and the community.

The Family of a fallen Marine will be presenting a hand cycle to a wounded warrior at the pre-race dinner. The recipient of the hand cycle will be Sgt. Stephen “Mark” Smith, a Marine who lost his leg in Ramadi in October 2006 while serving with 1st Battalion, 6th Marines. Smith will complete the 10K on his new hand cycle and plans on competing in this year’s Marine Corps Marathon as a member of Team Hope For The Warriors™.

“We’re looking forward to a great event in keeping with Run For The Warriors® tradition,” said Col. John Kopka (USMC, Ret.), 2010 race director.

For more information about the Hope For The Warriors® and its programs, please go to www.hopeforthewarriors.org.