WARRENSBURG — The Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg will host the 21st annual Run for Freedom 5K and 10K at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23.
The run is sponsored by the West Central Missouri Veterans Assistance League.
Runners from all over West Central Missouri and Eastern Kansas will participate in the event to help enhance the lives of the veterans who live at the Missouri Veterans Home.
Latisha Koetting, supervisor of volunteer services at the Missouri Veterans Home, said the proceeds of the race have always gone toward programs that enhance the lives of veterans.
In the past, funds helped purchase a handicap-accessible bus to take veterans on outings and to appointments. They have also purchased an ice cream machine, a Go Anywhere Tandem Bicycle that allows staff to take a veteran on a bike ride, and programs like Touchtown, which allowed veterans to stay in touch with their families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, the proceeds will be used to purchase a Tovertafel for the special care unit. A Tovertafel is a $12,000 program games system for people with dementia and Alzheimer’s. The light projector allows staff to make any table into a magic table.
Veterans will be able to play a variety of games and participate in different activities that will enrich their quality of life.
Melissa Terry, director of the recreation therapy department, saw a demonstration of this product at a conference. She immediately knew it could make a difference for the veterans who have dementia and Alzheimer’s.
“Three veterans from the special care unit came up to sample it and they couldn’t get enough of it,” Koetting said. “They were engaged and fascinated by it. We know this is something that our families will enjoy doing with their veteran.”
During the event, veterans are able to participate by starting the race and giving medals.
“During the run, one of our veterans always shotguns the runners off by pushing the button on the air horn,” Koetting said. “They have such a sense of pride being able to kick things off in this way. In addition, our veterans present the medals to our winning runners. Receiving a medal from me is OK, but receiving a medal from a veteran is priceless.
“Also, we purchase a T-shirt for all of our veterans and it includes the names of the individuals, businesses and service organizations who are sponsoring this event. They get to visually see how far people support them. This year’s sponsors span from Kansas City to Sunrise Beach. They get excited when they see a sponsor who is from their hometown.”
Events like this allow the home to take veterans on outings to some of their favorite places.
“I think some people believe that everything at the Veterans Home is covered by the Veterans Administration or the State of Missouri,” Koetting said. “However, that’s not the case. Our Veterans Assistance League hosts events like these to bring special things to our home.”
This includes receiving prize money for bingo, enjoying free ice cream and live music, and going on outings to favorite restaurants, the Missouri State Fair, the World War I Museum, the Kansas City Zoo or a Kansas City Royals game.
“These are the things our veterans look forward to,” Koetting said. “During the 2022-23 fiscal year, our Veterans Assistance League spent nearly $119,000 in programs that enhance the lives of the veterans who live at the Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg. One runner or one sponsor can make a difference. Every dollar counts.”
The event offers a 5K and 10K run that is USATF certified and uses a professional timing company to document running times.
In 2022, runners ranged in age from 1 to 78. Medals are presented to the top three finishers in each age category for the run by the veterans who live at the home.
The cost to participate is $30. The deadline to receive a shirt is Sept. 9. Online registration is available at register.chronotrack.com/r/72316. Entry forms may also be picked up at the Missouri Veterans Home, 1300 Veterans Road.
Sponsorship, volunteer opportunities and additional information are available by calling Koetting at 660-429-4661.
