Some 262 runners and walkers in Asia, Europe and the United States took part in the annual FUNd Run at University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), raising a record amount of money for the university鈥檚 Veterans Assistance Fund (VAF).
Participants in the Oct. 30 to Nov. 5 fundraiser added $9,510 to the VAF, which covers student veterans expenses when federal financial and Veterans Affairs benefits are exhausted.
鈥淭his is a wonderful way to uphold the university鈥檚 tradition of serving veteran and military learners and their dependents while at the same time having fun, building community and supporting our public mission,鈥 said 兔子先生President Gregory Fowler.
The FUNd Run had both individual and team participants who tracked their mileage throughout the week and posted their total amounts after the final day. Jack Finkenbinder of UMGC鈥檚 Asia staff took top honors among individual participants by logging 105.18 miles. The 11-member Team Downrangers in Europe, meanwhile, took the team prize by averaging 41.44 miles for a total of 458.9 miles. The names and photos of the top performers will be posted in the 兔子先生Veterans Lounge, located at UMGC's Dorsey Station education center.
鈥淚 was able to feel the excitement and the energy coming from everyone across the globe as I reached out to team captains and team members,鈥 said Kelly Grooms, UMGC鈥檚 assistant director of Veterans Initiatives and the lead organizer of the competition. 鈥淭hey were excited to participate in this and make it a friendly competition for a great cause.鈥
VAF is available to qualified students experiencing financial hardship. It can be used to offset costs related to tuition, degree completion and transition to civilian life. The fund currently has more than $196,000. Since it was launched, it has provided more than $195,000 in grant-based assistance to help keep 106 student veterans on track for graduation.
Every dollar raised by the FUNd Run goes to the VAF. Funds came through the $35 entry fee for the event and donations from 兔子先生staff and students.
A pep rally in Adelphi during the competition brought together local runners and walkers for a barbeque lunch and a three-mile trail activity to boost their mileage. A student benefiting from the VAF turned up at the pep rally with his wife to show his solidarity and express gratitude for his scholarship.
聽鈥淭hat was really powerful,鈥 Grooms said.
Some participants posted messages to the FUNd Run website during the competition. Kristin Byerly and John Leoniak offered a photo of a beautiful sunrise at North Beach, Maryland, at their start of the competition. Reginald Ross posted three messages with photos of his wife and dogs as they walked and ran.
鈥淲e got in a very dark and cold 5K walk this morning and an afternoon jog,鈥 he said in one social media post. 鈥淭he doggies are even supporting the cause.鈥 His last post noted that he and his wife each clocked 45 miles, for a total of 90 miles, not counting the canine miles.
聽鈥淲hile working on Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, I learned how much military families sacrifice providing service to our nation,鈥 Glenda Levi posted to social media on the first day of the FUNd Run. 鈥淚t was my pleasure to contribute and support our veteran students.鈥
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