Every year, the Travis Manion Foundation hosts more than 50 races across the country to recognize veterans, first responders and fallen heroes. This year, Alexandria will host the second annual 9/11 Heroes Run Sept. 10 at Carl Sandburg Middle School to “honor the fallen by challenging the living.”
“The idea of ‘honor the fallen by challenging the living’ is for those that have passed away in wars and conflicts, [firemen who died] in a burning house at three in the morning or a policeman who is gunned down,” says Jim O’Farrell, race director for the Alexandria Heroes Run. “We want to honor them, and in doing so, we’re going to challenge you by running in this 5K, walking in this 5K or even just [flipping] some pancakes to honor the people who helped give us the country we have today.”
O’Farrell believes Alexandria’s Heroes Run is different from other races in that it represents a “slice of America” because of all of the community organizations that come out and participate rather than merely writing a check. Alexandria Cars and Coffee, for example, will helm a classic car show, IHOP will serve a free pancake breakfast and Starbucks will give out free coffee. The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue and Police departments and Fort Hunt Youth Athletic Association are just a couple of the other organizations that will participate in the event. The West Potomac High School chorus will sing the National Anthem, and the Virginia chapter of the Patriot Guard Riders will display American flags along the race course.
The Heroes Run is presented by and benefits the Travis Manion Foundation, which is named after a Marine Corps first lieutenant who grew up in the Alexandria area. Manion was killed by a sniper in Iraq in 2007 while pulling two of his wounded fellow soldiers to safety. His legacy lives on through the foundation’s work and its mission statement: “If not me, then who?”
The race will also benefit the Fairfax County Police Explorers and the Armed Services Arts Partnership. The Fairfax County Police Explorers help children and young adults with an interest in law enforcement learn more about the field. The Armed Services Arts Partnership connects veterans to arts programs and events where they can express themselves through music, writing and comedy.
O’Farrell was motivated to establish a 9/11 Heroes Run in Alexandria because he wanted to recognize the death of his Naval Academy roommate John Kainer. Kainer was a standout wrestler at Robinson Secondary School and a member of SEAL Team Six before he passed away due to a brain tumor in 2009. “He was a really good person of high character and integrity, and for me, it’s about representing John Kainer,” O’Farrell says. “I really looked up to John even though he was only about 5-foot-2.”
While this is only the second year of the Alexandria 9/11 Heroes Run, last year’s inaugural event was a massive success. “The Travis Manion Foundation does a survey after the event, and last year almost all the comments were extremely positive,” O’ Farrell says. Last year’s race drew 996 registered runners, roughly 500 volunteers and spectators and raised more than $16,000. O’Farrell hopes to see 2,000 to 2,500 at this year’s event.
“The most rewarding part for me has been getting to know people all across the community from all walks of life and find out [about their] passion for giving back to our community and supporting our first responders, our military and our community,” O’Farrell says.
