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University News


2024 Fallen Soldiers 5K Registration Open

October 8, 2024


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MACOMB, IL - - Registration is now open for the 13th running of the Fallen Soldiers 5K. The 2024 run/walk will be held Saturday, Nov. 2 on the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ Macomb campus.

The shirt registration deadline is Monday, Oct. 14.

The event honors members of the armed forces, as well as two fallen soldiers and °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ alumni, Capt. Derek Dobogai and Lt. Col. Robert Baldwin.

Dobogai graduated from °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ in 2003, with a bachelor's degree in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration. He was among 14 soldiers on a Black Hawk helicopter, which crashed in August 2007, in northern Iraq. Baldwin earned his bachelor's degree from °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ in Industrial Technology in 1993. He was killed in September 2010, when his Black Hawk UH-60 helicopter crashed while carrying international troops during combat operations in Afghanistan.

An opening ceremony will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Donald S. Spencer Student Recreation Center, and the race begins at 9 a.m., taking off from in front of Western Hall on University Drive.

The run/walk began in 2012 to raise money for the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ Fallen Soldiers' Scholarship Fund, and honor Dobogai and Baldwin, who were both killed in the line of duty. Since its establishment, this event has raised more than $200,000.

Registration for this year's Fallen Soldiers 5K Run/Walk is $30 through Monday, Oct. 14. After Oct. 14, the cost of registration for the in-person race is $35. °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ students can register up through race day for $10. The cost includes a participant shirt, finisher's medal and access to a refueling station at the end of the race.

For those who can't make it to Macomb for the event, a virtual option is available. For $40, participants will have their shirt and medal mailed to them. The cost increases to $45 after Oct. 14.

A $50 donation can also be made to honor a veteran who has served, or a service member who is currently serving, with a sign placed along the event route. The sign will include their name, rank and military branch.

There are a variety of sponsorship opportunities available to underwrite the costs of the run/walk. Individuals, organizations and businesses can review the list of available sponsorship opportunities and sponsor benefits at wiu.edu/fallensoldiers.

The event typically has between 400-500 participants on campus.

For more event information, to register, or to become an event sponsor, visit wiu.edu/fallensoldiers or email fallensoldiers5k@wiu.edu.

Posted By: Drew Donahoo (AM-Donahoo@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing