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Run for Freedom raises funds for veterans home

Veterans and their volunteers file along Foxrun Drive in Warrensburg to draw a playing card for the poker game on the Run for Freedom 5K course. Participants picked cards from decks set up across the course and the best hand was revealed after the walk.

By Muleskinner Staff

September 29, 2015

PHOTOS BY ALEX AGUEROS/digitalBURG Latisha Koetting, director of volunteer services at the Warrensburg Veterans Home, with Missouri state Sen. Dave Pearce, center, welcomes the volunteers and veterans before the Run for Freedom 5K at the veterans home Saturday. Koetting thanked the almost 200 student volunteers from the University of Central Missouri and the 100 volunteers from Whiteman Air Force base who chauffeured veterans, manned hydration stations and monitored the poker tables along the course.

PHOTOS BY ALEX AGUEROS/digitalBURG
Latisha Koetting, director of volunteer services at the Warrensburg Veterans Home, with Missouri state Sen. Dave Pearce, center, welcomes the volunteers and veterans before the Run for Freedom 5K at the veterans home Saturday.

The 13th annual Run for Freedom 5K, 10K and Poker Walk took place Saturday at the Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg.

The West Central Missouri Veterans Assistance League hosted this USATF certified event, which offered professional timing services, performance race shirts, medals for runners in 12 different age categories, cash prizes for overall winners, door prizes and refreshments, according to a news release.

This year’s proceeds will go into a fund to purchase a new handicapped-accessible kneeling bus that will allow staff to transport veterans from the home to a variety of outings.

Two hundred veterans representing service in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Bosnia and peacetime operations live at the home.

Some 200 student volunteers from the University of Central Missouri and 100 volunteers from Whiteman Air Force base chauffeured veterans, manned hydration stations and monitored the poker tables along the course.

Veterans and their volunteers file along Foxrun Drive in Warrensburg to draw a playing card for the poker game on the Run for Freedom 5K course. Participants picked cards from decks set up across the course and the best hand was revealed after the walk.

Veterans and their volunteers file along Foxrun Drive in Warrensburg to draw a playing card for the poker game on the Run for Freedom 5K course. Participants picked cards from decks set up across the course and the best hand was revealed after the walk.

Volunteers and veterans wait to begin their Run for Freedom 5K walk Saturday at the Warrensburg Veterans Home. Around 75 veterans participated in the annual fundraising event.

Volunteers and veterans wait to begin their Run for Freedom 5K walk Saturday at the Warrensburg Veterans Home. Around 75 veterans participated in the annual fundraising event.

Central Missouri students, from left, Bradley O’Connor, Devin King, Jenny Sutton, Ben Matthews and Calvin Archer cheer a veteran during the Run for Freedom Veteran’s 5K. The students are enrolled in a management of organizations course at UCM, and were required to volunteer at a nonprofit event for an assignment.

Central Missouri students, from left, Bradley O’Connor, Devin King, Jenny Sutton, Ben Matthews and Calvin Archer cheer a veteran during the Run for Freedom Veteran’s 5K. The students are enrolled in a management of organizations course at UCM, and were required to volunteer at a nonprofit event for an assignment.

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