The fourth annual “4 the Wounded
5K” race was held June 7 in Charlottesville, Va., to raise money for the Wounded Warrior
Project. More than 1,300 runners and walkers completed the race up and over the
long and challenging hills at the University of Virginia Research Park.
More than 20 military and civilian
volunteers from the Defense Intelligence Agency and the National Ground
Intelligence Center provided support services to the event including planning,
color guard participation, parking coordination, event security and safety,
course set-up, registration, and clean-up. Close to 100 DIA, NGIC and National
Geospatial-Intelligence Agency personnel and family members participated as
runners, walkers or fans cheering on the racers. This was indeed a community
event in which the intelligence community was a focal point for support and
participation.
Although the race route is one of the toughest
courses in town, this immensely popular community event continues an
unprecedented growth momentum and is now the fourth largest road race in the
region and one of the top 10 fundraising events for the Wounded Warrior Project
in the country.
The event raised more than
$115,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project this year and over $389,000 since
2011. One hundred percent of the race’s proceeds benefit the Wounded Warrior
Project, which provides programs and services to severely injured service
members during the time between active duty and transition to civilian life.
Salvador “Sal” Gonzalez, Wounded Warrior Project ambassador and U.S. Marine
Corps veteran wounded in combat operations in Iraq, was the guest speaker and
extended his gratitude to those that participated and supported the event.