Run For The Brave Benefits Local Veterans

PLAINFIELD, IL—The eighth annual Run for the Brave is fast approaching. The race starts at 8 a.m. May 25 at Plainfield North High School and is put on by Operation Welcome You Home, a not-for-profit organization that helps support veterans in need.

Judi Stapleton, vice president of corporate relations for Operation Welcome You Home, said everything is going as planned in terms of organizing the event.

Run for the Brave consists of a 5K run/walk/ruck, awards ceremony and after race party.

Stapleton said they are still weighing ideas for the ceremony portion of the event.

Last year, Operation Welcome You Home decided to honor Vietnam Veterans.

“There’s always ways to make it bigger and better for veterans and let them know that they have support at home while they’re sacrificing their life and their family’s life,” Stapleton said.

Stapleton said Operation Welcome You Home has been busy trying to support veterans over the past year.

Help commonly comes in the form of monetary assistance or referrals to systems for emotional support.

“The biggest thing we do is we purchase an action tracker, which is $18,500 for them,” Stapleton said. She gave an example of how Operation Welcome You Home has transformed lives.

“One of our survivors he has a severe, traumatic brain injury, so it’s hard for him to get around to walk,” Stapleton said. “This chair also helps in sporting events. The first thing that his son said when we did deliver that chair to him was, ‘Daddy, can we go fishing now?’ That always sticks to me to melt my heart.”

Sponsors have already begun finding ways to get involved to help support the cause.

“The starting procedures of planning take months in advance to seek new sponsors or get everyone on board to see what we can do bigger and better every year,” Stapleton said.

Operation Welcome You Home started planning this year’s race last fall.

Stapleton said they could always use more sponsors.

Stapleton said it is great knowing that community members are committed to getting behind the cause.

“We have continuing volunteers, and we also have new volunteers as well,” she said.

Run for the Brave is a Chicago Area Runners Association certified race.

Organizers are hoping to draw in more than 600 participants.

Stapleton said the race tends to bring in people from all across the area.

The deadline for early online registration is May 14. The cost is $35 for adults and $25 for children ages 10 and younger.

Adults and children, who sign up on or after May 15, pay $40 and $30, respectively.

Proceeds will allow Operation Welcome You Home to carry out its mission of supporting veterans in need.

For information or to register, visit welcomeyouhome.org or email RunForTheBrave@welcomeyouhome.org.