How can you help a veteran?

The 2023 Run for Heroes 5k is already up and running. The East Rockaway Kiwanis club held a kickoff event on July 24 in preparation for the September race for local veterans — so in the countywide race, East Rockaway is already off to a head start.

“The Kiwanis always supports the vets,” said Michaelene Abbott-Cooper, president of the East Rockaway Kiwanis club. Her two sons, 21 and 23, are both marines. “I always saw respect in the flag, in being an American, in the opportunities we have here, in how we conduct ourselves.”

Assemblyman Brian Curran first began the race in 2011. Many of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts had been struggling financially, and Curran saw the Run for Heroes as a way to potentially fix it. After the money raised covers the costs like for things like medals and banners, the remaining money is equally divided among the posts.

“The posts are very important because it provides, particularly the older veterans, a place to go and see other veterans, to socialize, to talk about their experiences,” Curran said. “To many veterans, the posts are their second homes. They enjoy being there. We must do everything to keep them open, and the only way to do that is to meet their needs.”

The momentum of the race grew each year into what it is today. Now each participating town alone regularly sees between 100 and 200 runners, and raises anywhere from $5,000 to more than $10,000 for the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts.

And the money isn’t the only thing given back to the veterans. Seeing their friends, families, neighbors, and even strangers come together to support them has just as much an impact.

“I think they’re thankful, I think they’re grateful,” Abbott-Cooper said. “The joy I get is from seeing them smile.”

“You can see the appreciation in their faces to all of the runners,” Curran said. “What their participation is doing for them in keeping their post open, it means everything to them.”

He added, “After all they’ve done, this is the very least we can do.”

To register, visit Events.EliteFeats/23RunForHeroes.