Warminster 5K race to raise funds for veterans, honor fallen service members

The 2022 Wounded Hero 5k Race and Car Show is coming back to Warminster Community Park for a 10th year, starting on Saturday, June 18.

In addition to raising money for veterans, the race also will honor the 13 U.S. services members who were killed in Kabul, Afghanistan, by an explosive device on Aug. 26

Heather Sliwinski, of Warminster, organized the first Wounded Hero 5k Race 10 years ago to support the Honor & Courage Program, which supports veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder or other traumatic brain injuries. Her son, Cpl. Luke Sliwinski, who is stationed in California, developed a blueprint for the program when he was 11 years old.

At the time, Heather Sliwinski was volunteering at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and she brought her son along with her on those visits.

He noticed that veterans struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder and other brain injuries.

“He wanted to put together a team of wounded warrior mentors, guys who have come with post-traumatic stress disorder and have learned coping skills, so they can help guide guys who are coming back,” Heather Sliwinski said.

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Honor & Courage is part of Operation Ward 57, which supports "wounded, injured, and ill service members, veterans, their caregivers and those that aid in recovery by providing assistance and outreach in their recovery, comfort and morale, and through advocacy, education and promotion of their circumstances," according to Operation Ward 57's mission statement from their website.

The program serves as "bridge" for those who can not afford car payments, rent and utilities, Sliwinski said. It includes a hotline that provides support to veterans.

“A lot of times they just feel like they need to feel a sense of need again. That is where we will encourage them,” Heather Sliwinski said.

Sliwinski helps them find their footing.

“I just had a phone call the other night where he just missed that sense of being a part of a team again. I encouraged him to start looking into coaching,” Sliwinksi said. “He called me back a few days later, and he said he is starting to coach little league baseball, so just doing things like that really helps them keep a clear mind. And just the sense of contributing back into society is so helpful for them.”

Saturday’s race means something extra for the people involved. The families of the 13 U.S. troops killed in Kabul have been invited to attend.

Heather Sliwinski felt heartbroken for those families.

“I am a Marine mom, knowing that could of been my child, my son. My son, he is a Marine and his Marines are his brothers,” she said. “I look at it as therefore, I have many sons. I love our military and marines. I love our soldiers. When I heard about this, it was like a gut punch.”

The opening ceremony begins at 9 a.m.

Ron O’Ferrall, a U.S. Army veteran, and some of the Gold Star family members are scheduled to speak.

Outside of running and walking, The Resilient, a band of wounded veterans, are playing live music for everyone.

Heather Sliwinski expects that a lot of people will come out in support. Last year, 120 people went to a fundraising car show, and on average 200 runners and 75 walkers sign up, but sometimes that number goes up before the start time, she said.

Sliwinski is thankful that Warminster Township and Warminster Community Park have supported this mission.

“It’s actually a great place to have a 5k because the terrain, it’s nice and flat,” Heather Sliwinski said. “So a lot of wounded warriors will participate, so if they have prosthetics, it’s nice and flat for them. So its not too challenging with hills, it’s not dangerous.”

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Wounded Hero 5K race returns to Warminster, raises funds for veterans