Tackle a timed, two-mile obstacle course by completing the fourth annual Operation Obstacle: The Race to End Veteran Suicide!
WHEN: September 21, 2024 | Check-In from 8:30-9:30 a.m. | Race Begins at 10:15 a.m.
WHERE: Workforce Development Institute, Richland Community College
In observance of Veterans Suicide Prevention Month in September, the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs Suicide Prevention Team and Richland Community College present the fourth annual Operation Obstacle: The Race to End Veteran Suicide.
“VA Illiana’s Suicide Prevention Team’s collaboration with the Richland Community College Fitness Center brings community awareness to the 17 Veterans that die each day by suicide and gives opportunity for our Suicide Prevention Team to make connections with the community, Service Members, Veterans, and their families. The VA can’t do it alone. We need our community partners like Richland Community College to help us care for our Veterans and to intervene when someone is in distress,” according to Hannah Jordan, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Suicide Prevention Case Manager for VA Illiana.
This year is extra special because it is on the same day as International Peace Day. The event is open to the public along with Richland students and employees taking part in the race and participating as volunteers. Fun physical obstacles, finishers challenge medals, goodie bags and snacks/water will be available for all finishers.You can also participate in the non-competitive fun run and skip the obstacles. Event t-shirts are available in the registration process. Also, trophies will be awarded to the top 3-Male & Female finishers.There will be a brief opening Veterans honorary ceremony with the presentation of the flag, national anthem and brief speech from the VA Illiana Suicide Prevention Team. Proceeds will also support Richland Community College’s Student Veteran’s Resource Center to help student Veterans and Servicemembers overcome financial obstacles to education and it provides free Veterans resources and services. The Richland Veteran’s Student Resource Center was opened in 2019 and serves as a comfortable space for Veteran students to study, relax, communicate, and collaborate.