2018 Veterans 5K Run WNY

The morning of November 3 was cold and raining, but you could feel the warmth from the hearts of the runners when Jeff Binz, UAW Region 9 Director, sounded the horn to start the 5k run.  Over 100 runners between the ages of 11 and 84 braved the elements to participate in this year’s 19th Annual UAW Region 9 Veteran’s Appreciation Run in Lockport, NY.  Many of the runners participate in this run every year, and each of them have their own special story for running.   UAW Local 774 retiree Jim Burns was the oldest man to run.  At age 70, Jim is a Vietnam War Veteran who is active in many local Veteran activities.  For example, Jim participates in other Veteran runs including one where he carries a full backpack of food to raise awareness of feeding our Veterans who are not able to feed themselves.   

 UAW Local 686 members Monica Farnham and Patty Giles dressed in their red white and blue tutus. Both women are breast cancer survivors and ran this year to honor former UAW EAP Representative Joe Rosati, who passed away earlier this year.  Edna Hyer from South Wales, NY, was the oldest runner at 84.  Edna has been participating in this run for many years and it’s been known to be one of her favorites.  Alexander Krull, the son of UAW local 55 members Jay and Theresa Krull, won the race with a time of 17:47.  Each of the volunteers took some time to remember a beloved active member of their committee, James Deveraux, who passed away in the Buffalo VA hospital in June.  Even though they were all running for different reasons, each of the runners and volunteers came to show their honor and appreciation to our Veterans.  Jeff Binz, UAW Region 9 Director, stated “It was an honor to participate in this event and to support the men and women who give so much to keep our country safe.”  

This Veteran’s Appreciation run is the largest fundraiser for the WNY UAW Region 9 Veteran’s Committee, which is made up of UAW locals throughout Western NY.  This year’s run raised a total of $16,000.   Guy Newell, Chairman of the committee, recently ordered a brand new 12 passenger van which the committee will donate to the VA Hospital of Bath NY later this year. This will be the 4th van the committee has donated to local VA hospitals. The previous van was donated in 2016.  The local VA hospitals have found the donated vans instrumental in helping transport Veterans to and from their appointments.  This is just one way the WNY Region 9 Veteran’s Committee shows their appreciation to our local Veterans. 

 

Please click on photo to view album: Photos  and article by Jessie Jesson LU 686

2018 Veterans 5K Run WNY