TAMPA, Fla. — Nearly 60 runners laced up at Al Lopez Park to participate in the first ever Wounded Warriors in Action 5K.
The race benefited an organization dedicated to giving back to a very special group of veterans.
“We provide world-class outdoor sporting activities to our nation’s purple heart recipients," said founder and CEO John McDaniel, a former veteran himself. "We do that all across the nation. It’s our way of providing a healing platform."
McDaniel said he wanted to find a big way to give back.
Wounded Warriors in Action hosts hunting and fishing trips in 35 states across the country. The organization's headquarters are in Brandon.
The proceeds from Saturday's race will go directly to fishing events in the Tampa Bay area. Wounded Warriors in Action chief of staff and purple heart recipient Gerard Dempster said he's proud of it.
“It allows me to be able to give back, support other veterans, and do something I love doing," Dempster said.
Runners used the cause as inspiration to keep going.
“Well if you’re injured, that means you might have some sort of disability putting you behind your peers," said runner and Marine Corps veteran Joradn Bermudez. "So anything, donation wise, going to them, is going to be helpful."
The help the veterans will receive is so desperately needed and deserved.
“I just have a very special soft spot in my heart for those men and women who do get wounded and earn the purple heart," McDaniel said. "They’re probably our nation’s most valuable asset. They went out, they wore our nation’s uniform and they bled for this country. And this is our way of saying thanks for what you did. Welcome home.”
Instead of giving out medals for Saturday's race, each runner received the Wounded Warriors in Action coin. It has the image of a purple heart on one side and the letters on the other.
Madison Alworth is a reporter with 10News WTSP. Like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter. You can also email her at malworth@wtsp.com.
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