Rec and Roll: Kensington Challenge--Running For Our Vets

On Sept. 17, Kensington Metropark will be hosting the 28th annual John Rogucki Memorial Kensington Challenge.  The event will host both a 5K walk and a 15K run.  Proceeds will go to The Wounded Warrior Project, a foundation focused on helping rehabilitate wounded veterans who incurred service-related injuries on or after September 11, 2001. 

The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), based in Jacksonville, FL, aims to serve veterans who suffered both physical injuries as well as mental trauma while serving.  WWP has 13 specialized programs and services to help meet each individuals needs.

The WWP Mind program helps veterans to overcome the challenges of readjusting after returning from war through rehabilitative retreats, peer support and professional counseling services. 

For veterans who were physically wounded during their service, the WWP Body program helps to maximize rehabilitations through adaptive sports, proper nutrition and general health maintenance.  The goal of the Body program is to help veterans be able to live independently with a high quality of life.

The WWP seeks to help veterans become economically stable through its Economic Empowerment program, where they are offered higher education programs, information technology training and employment assistance services.

For veterans who are hospitalized, the WWP gives them a backpack with essential care items to help make their stay more comfortable.  This small gesture has had a big impact on many of the veterans 

“At that moment, there probably wasn’t a more significant gift that I’ve ever received.  And with the gift came a promise...that if there was anything I ever needed, they werre there for me.  It was just really nice to know there was somebody in your corner,” said one wounded warrior after receiving his backpack.

According to the WWP website, 5,679 backpacks have been delivered to wounded veterans since the WWP was founded. 

There’s no doubt that the WWP is an amazing organization that does very important work, helping those who have sacrificed so much for the rest of us.  Regardless if you agree or disagree with the war we’re currently fighting or some of our country’s current policies, this organization deserves to be supported.   

The race on Sept. 17 will start and end at Maple Beach inside the Kensington Metropark.  The 5K walk will start at 9 a.m. and the 15K run will start at 9:15 a.m.  A late registration form can be picked up at in Brighton on Sept. 16 from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  Registration costs $35.

For additional information on the WWP, please visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org

For additional information on the Kensington Challenge, please visit http://www.aatrackclub.org/2011-09-17/kensington-challenge/p