The Travis Manion Foundation will host the Alexandria 9/11 Heroes Run 5K race and 1 Mile Fun/Run Walk at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 10 at Carl Sandburg Middle School, 8428 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria, and the Annapolis 9/11 Heroes Run 5K race and 1 Mile Fun/Run Walk at 2 p.m. on Sept. 11 at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md.
The annual races seek to remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost on 9/11, as well as to honor the military and first responders that serve the country and the communities. This year’s race in Alexandria is organized by Jim O’Farrell, who serves as the local race director, and the race in Annapolis is organized by General Dave Papak and Natanya Levioff.
Proceeds from the 9/11 Heroes Run will benefit the Travis Manion Foundation, which empowers veterans and families of fallen heroes to develop character in future generations. In addition, the Alexandria race location will donate a portion of their race proceeds to the local Fisher House on behalf of the Travis Manion Foundation’s mission to directly assist local community veterans.
The 9/11 Heroes Run series was inspired by Marine 1st Lt. Travis Manion, who was killed by a sniper in Iraq in April 2007 as he protected his battalion. Before his final deployment, Travis visited Rescue One in New York City — famous for losing almost all of their men on 9/11 — and returned home with deeper passion about why he was fighting in Iraq.
To learn more and to register for a race, visit www.911heroesrun.org.