The Student Government Association hosted a 5k run at Kereiakes Park on Friday, Nov. 8 to help raise money for WKU’s ROTC and help instill remembrance for veterans with Veteran’s Day on the horizon.
To sign up for the event runners paid an entrance fee of $15. Upon sign-in every runner was entered into a raffle for a new iPad.
The first ten runners who completed the run received medals and freshly grilled hamburgers were available for all participants at the end of the run.
The Veteran’s Day 5k was organized by SGA Senior Senator and Community Relations head, Annie Finch. Finch said she has always respected America’s service members because of family military connections.
Finch said the idea for a fundraiser 5k came when she wanted to help ease the ROTC’s budget constraints. Last year’s race raised about $2,000, she said.
Rowen Wilkinson, a junior majoring in Spanish, Chinese and international affairs and an ROTC member, was the first to cross the finish line.
Wilkinson said he heard about the event through his involvement with the ROTC. He explained that fundraisers like this help the ROTC have the extra money they need to operate the best they can.
“Just having these little bits of extra pockets of money allow us to have better brand branch announcements and better ceremonies and stuff so that we can properly, acknowledge our cadets,” Wilkinson said.
Wilkinson also said the opportunity to race and his love of running was extra incentive to attend.
“I just like pushing myself,” Wilkinson said. “I really like competition.”
Joseph Berkley, a freshman health administration major, attended the event as a runner and member of the ROTC.
Berkley said the ROTC focuses on betterment through physical fitness and leadership.
“It teaches you how to lead, how to basically just better yourself entirely,” he said.
Berkley the ROTC is working on getting better exercise equipment and adding to their cadet lounge, and the money raised would help them with those costs.
Runner Lucus Grefe, a senior finance major, said he believes it is important to hold events to honor veterans.
“They definitely deserve the attention and gratitude for all of what they have done,” Grefe said.
News Reporter Anthony Clauson can be reached at [email protected].
