Indiana University’s all-inclusive Veterans Day 5k celebrated its second year this past weekend with record breaking attendance.
The 5k was hosted by Bloomington Parks and Recreation, the Indiana University Center for Veteran and Military Students, and adaptive sports at IU, in collaboration with the IU Wheelchair Basketball club. The event sponsors hoped to bring awareness to disabled veterans.
The race, titled “Ruck-N-Roll”, took place on Saturday November 9th and began at the Showalter Fountain. The race was named “Ruck-N-Roll” to honor all military personnel. “Ruck” meant active duty military personnel were encouraged to complete the race in full uniform, backpacks and boots included. “Roll” stood for the participants who chose to navigate through the course in a wheelchair donated by the School of Public Health.
The participants who wheeled themselves through the race were showing their support for wounded and disabled veterans. IU Wheelchair Basketball President, Rachel Wilson said, “I think it is really important to keep spreading awareness about disabilities and inclusion in sports and activities”. Wilson went on to say huge strides have been made in reaching the disabled community and there is always room for growth at IU.
Roughly 15 non-disabled participants strapped themselves into a wheelchair and rolled themselves down the campus sidewalks, passing the Eskenazi Museum of Art, Swain Hall, the Sample Gates and more. Competitors could walk, run, or wheel through the course to get to the finish line. The all-accessible and all-inclusive race nearly doubled in size from the previous year with 65 participants including two dogs, 2o volunteers and many spectators.
Indiana University’s proud tradition of military involvement has remained strong for nearly 200 years. Just recently, Indiana University Bloomington was selected as one of the 134 schools recognized as “Best for Vet’s” by Military Times. According to the article published by Military Times, IU was ranked 70th with an impressive 81% military graduation rate. Last year, IU had 527 military and veteran students enrolled in classes on campus. This year, the campus is home to more than 500 veterans and over 700 military spouses and dependents.
Todd Burkhardt, Director of Campus Partnerships at the Center for Rural Engagement and United States veteran, believes IU does a tremendous job at supporting veterans and military students. Burkhardt said, “IU has a very strong history with veteran support. As a matter of fact, the football stadium is named Memorial Stadium, there is also Memorial Hall and the Indiana Memorial Union. Those are all named after veterans who have sacrificed throughout time and as brothers and sisters of Indiana”.
IU’s veteran and military student support doesn’t go unnoticed. The Veterans Day 5k was just one of the many Veterans Day events hosted by IU this year. Other IU sponsored Veterans Day events included Coffee with a Veteran, the annual Veterans Day Flag raising, the showing of a Pulitzer Prize winning play about war, and more.
The annual Veterans Day 5k was more than just a race. It was an opportunity for the community to come together in support of the men and women who have honorably served our country. Bloomington Parks and Recreation, The Indiana University Center for Veteran and Military Students and the IU Wheelchair Basketball club are all looking forward to next year’s Ruck-N-Roll 5k, the growing awareness of disabilities, and supporting our nation’s heroes.