Students running for those who can’t
Saturday morning, 110 people ran 5 kilometers from the Nelson Fieldhouse to benefit those who could not run. The second annual Cache Valley Salute was organized by Army ROTC cadet and USU senior, Jacob Roecker and his ROTC committee.
Each participate paid $10 to enter and was automatically entered in a prize raffle, Roecker said.
“The money goes to Common Ground Adventures (which) is a non profit local charity that helps people with disabilities enjoy the outdoors and families affected by disability enjoy the outdoors,” Roecker said. “Some of their current clients happen to be veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan who have come back missing limbs.”
A member of the organization committee, James Anderson, said participating in the planning was a great opportunity to serve the community.
“Especially something like this,” Anderson, freshman in the Air Force ROTC, said. “Where it’s people who’ve been to Iraq, that have sacrificed. It’s a great way to give back to people with disabilities on campus.”
The participants of the race were able to donate to this organization and also had the opportunity to win prizes, Roecker said. The first three female and the first three male race winners were able to pick their prizes first. Some of the prizes included gift certificates to Sports Academy, free portrait sittings and frames, opera tickets and free massages, Roecker said. An added bonus for those who donated to the cause, was a free showing of “Saints and Soldiers.”
“The director donated the movie when we told him what we were doing,” Roecker said.
Roecker said the movie was part of the theme of the race to remember the sacrifices of those military people who had served and saluting the ROTC programs on campus.
“It’s way more than a race,” Roecker said.
Roecker is a veteran of the Iraq War, having served two tours of duty.
USU Wellness coordinator Caroline Shugart said, “It was just great to see all these wonderful people out here supporting a neat cause.”
Two notable runners were John Wilson and Skylor Pond. Pond is one of the people who use Common Ground Adventures to do things he would not otherwise be able to do. He completed the 5K by being pushed in his wheelchair the whole way by John Wilson. Pond said he wanted to do the race because he’s done a lot with Common Ground. Pond said his most enjoyable trip was a river rafting trip on the Snake River.
“The Common Ground is cool,” Pond said.
Participates were eager to praise the race and say how enjoyable it was. The first female to cross the finish line was freshman Krista Yardley.
“It was really well done, it was fun and they did a good job,” Yardley said.
Although the founder of the race, Roecker is graduating this spring and said he hopes the other who helped plan this year’s race will continue the tradition.
Roecker said, “The race needs to survive.”
-liz.w@aggiemail.usu.edu