CU runs for Veterans

Many people from the Concord community met at the track’s start line this past Saturday, October 4, to show support for student veterans. Registration began at 9 a.m., and the race shortly after at ten. The race, Run for Heroes, a 5K race, gives the community an opportunity to help student Veterans. 

    The race is an annual event and directly aids the Veteran’s Support Fund at Concord. The fund bridges the gap between the costs of college for these individuals, from textbooks to school supplies.

    Run for Heroes is an event that Mike Atwell, Veteran and Concord alumni, envisioned about two years ago. Atwell served as Director of WVCU (Concord University’s student radio station), and brainstormed with Jessica Doty (Instructor of WVCU) to organize the event as a way to for WVCU to give back to the community.     

    Marketing and production play a significant role in radio and broadcasting, so every semester Doty requires the WVCU student radio workshop to host an event to learn the logistics. 

    “WVCU wanted the event to strengthen community involvement and connections with one another, while helping students as well,” Doty says. 

The superhero theme originates from Atwell’s and Doty’s desire to show the parallels between comic book and real-life heroes. Runners were encouraged to wear a costume of their favorite super hero to honor the heroic vetran

    The course was designed to be challenging to honor our military. The veterans are excited and looking forward to the run, to compete and have fun with our college colleagues and the community.

    John Marcum, Veteran and Concord student, said, “Our nation supports us overseas. Our community supports us at home.” Marcum went on to say that he and the other student veterans at Concord appreciate the community’s support by hosting events like Run for Heroes.

    “The majority of our veterans have full time jobs, families, and commute long distance to receive a valued education from an esteemed and respected University here at Concord. With their school load on top of family and a 40 hour work week they have their hands full, so all the money raised goes to the veterans or ganization to help the group with any issue that may arise on campus to help them earn their degree,” Marcum says.    An awards ceremony preceded the race and race participants were treated to a complimentary barbecue meal with live entertainment courtesy of One Eyed Jack, a southern West Virginia blues band.

    Along with WVCU, Wes Hinkle State Farm and Concord’s Student’s Activities Committee sponsor the event. Andrew Sulgit, Director of Student’s Activities Committee organized the live entertainment and arranged for runners to receive a free T-shirt.

    Concord University has been named one of the top institutions for veterans by Military Times EDGE magazine, and ranked third in the nation among four-year colleges in the Best for Vets: College 2014 rankings released by the publication on Veterans Day in 2013. 

    The University is Veteran friendly and Run for Hero’s 5k Race is just another way of Concord showing the US military the gratitude  it deserves.