RUN THE ARMY TEN-MILER IN MEMORY OF A FALLEN SERVICE MEMBER WITH TAPS
Individual Runner & Team Slots Available for the Army Ten-Miler, October 21, 2012
Runners Run and Remember Fallen Service Members, Raise Funds to Help Families Left Behind
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 3, 2012
PHOTO AVAILABLE
WASHINGTON – When someone volunteers to run the Army Ten-Miler in memory of a fallen service member, they send a message to their families and our nation – that America will continue to honor and remember the service and sacrifice of our military. The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) has open slots for the sold-out 28th annual Army Ten-Miler being held October 21, 2012.
Interested runners can sign up to join the TAPS “Run and Remember” Team and be matched with a fallen hero to run in honor of. They also raise funds to support families of our fallen military seeking grief support through TAPS.
The TAPS “Run and Remember” team honors any person who has served their country and died, no matter where or how the service member died. In past races, runners have honored those who died in Iraq, Afghanistan, the United States, Bosnia and Vietnam. The team also honors service members who died in training crashes or by suicide.
While personal connections to a fallen hero motivate many on the TAPS team, some runners each year have no direct connection with a surviving family or the military. Many simply want to run to honor the life of a fallen military service member and let a surviving family know that their sacrifice is not forgotten.
Surviving family members are often deeply touched when someone runs to honor their loved one, especially in a race like the Army Ten-Miler, which is filled with patriotism and pride. Often families will communicate with the runner to share stories and information about their loved one.
Runners who would like to be matched with a family and run in memory of a fallen hero are welcome to register at www.taps.org or by calling 202.588.8277(TAPS). If you are already registered for the Army Ten-Miler, you may also transfer to the TAPS “Run and Remember” Team.
The $85.00 registration fees include a pre-race breakfast on race day, access to the TAPS post-race HOOAH celebration tent and the signature TAPS racing singlet with a photo showing the fallen hero you are running to remember.
TAPS also provides a monthly online chat session allowing runners to build connections with other “Run and Remember” team members, while sharing training tips and fundraising ideas.
One of the most memorable events on race weekend is the Saturday night pasta dinner where runners and family members remember every service member being honored through a run.
Runners who are not immediate family members of a fallen service member are asked to raise at least $500, and challenged to raise $1,000 or more for TAPS programs that help grieving families of our fallen military heroes. An online web page allows the runner to share information with friends, invite them to support his or her run and makes fundraising easy. Funds raised support Good Grief Camps for children, seminars for bereaved adults, grief and trauma resources, 24-7 resource and information helpline, and casualty casework assistance.
Even if you can’t run across the finish line, you can volunteer or donate on a runner’s web page to memorialize a fallen hero (go to www.tapsrunandremember.org/ATM).
More information about the Army Ten-Miler is available at www.armytenmiler.com.
About TAPS
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is the national organization providing compassionate care to anyone grieving the death of someone who served in the military. TAPS provides peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, seminars for adults, Good Grief Camps for children, case work assistance, and a 24/7 resource and information helpline for all who have been affected by a death in the Armed Forces. Services are provided free of charge. Founded in 1994 out of tragedy by bereaved military families, the nonprofit organization has offered support to more than 35,000 family members, caregivers and casualty assistance officers. For more information go to www.taps.org or call toll-free 800.959.TAPS.
Media Contact: Ami Neiberger-Miller, Public Affairs Officer, TAPS, phone 202.588.8277, ami@taps.org
PHOTO AVAILABLE (request photo by contacting ami@taps.org)
Photo Caption: TAPS “Run and Remember” Team runners, Army Lt. Colonel Jason Miseli and his wife Charlene after completing last year’s Army Ten Miler in memory of Army Captain Paul Pena. The TAPS Run and Remember Team has open slots available for individual runners and teams interested in honoring a fallen service member at this year’s race on October 21, 2012 and raising funds to help the families of America’s fallen heroes. Photo courtesy of TAPS, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (www.taps.org).
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