Race will help Wounded Warrior Project

Service is important to Robert Myers’ family.
His father served in the private sector for about seven years with Vohne Liche Kennels in Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan, ensuring vehicles weren’t wired with bombs. His grandfather fought in the Korean War.
Now the Jay County High School senior is giving back in a different way.
Myers, secretary of the school’s National Honor Society chapter, has coordinated a 5K color run for May 14 at Hudson Family Park in Portland as a benefit for Wounded Warrior Project.
As the last major charity project of the year for the honor society members, Myers chose the charity because of his appreciation for veterans and because it is a nationally-recognized organization providing a variety of services.
The idea for the “Color Me Patriot 5K Color Run” was sparked when Myers heard his friends talking about the fun they had taking part in other races.
“It did really seem fun so I thought it would be a cool project to do for high schoolers because it seemed like a fun event that they would want to come to,” he said.
For a time Myers considered joining one of the armed forces, but instead decided to continue his education in psychology and communications at Hanover College. In the future, he’d like to do something to help those who do serve in the military, possibly with an organization like WWP.
Registration for the 5K, which has a $20 entry fee, is scheduled for noon, with the run to begin at 1 p.m. at the park amphitheater. Myers hopes to have as many as 100 participants.
Runners will head south on the paved track around the park’s pond, and then west along the trail. Participants will continue the trail toward Whitaker Bridge, to the main entrance to the park and then back to the amphitheatre, and then repeat three more laps to complete the race.
There will be four stations with red and blue color to douse runners on the grassy stretches of the trail.
The run rounds out a year which included the NHS officers coordinating major projects in support of State of the Heart Hospice, Forgotten Children Worldwide and World Vision.
“A lot of it has to do with having great officers,” said NHS sponsor Chrissy Krieg. “I think they inspire each other. Current officers inspire future officers.”