Events
5K - CIVILIAN
180 spots left. Registration closes on October 1, 2024 at 11:59pm EDT and re-opens on October 2, 2024 at 12:00am EDT
5K - Veteran or Active Duty
111 spots left. Registration closes on October 1, 2024 at 11:59pm EDT and re-opens on October 2, 2024 at 12:00am EDT
10K - Civilian
131 spots left. Registration closes on October 1, 2024 at 11:59pm EDT and re-opens on October 2, 2024 at 12:00am EDT
10K - Veteran or Active Duty
59 spots left. Registration closes on October 1, 2024 at 11:59pm EDT and re-opens on October 2, 2024 at 12:00am EDT
Kids "Cadet" Race
Walk - 2 Mile - not timed
Description
Presented by Richmond \ Vona Personal Injury Attorneys . Hosted by Destination Races.
Race Start: 9:00 AM
RACE HIGHLIGHTS
- Race Cap is 700 participants
- 5K & 10K and Kids Race (ages 2 to 8) - Open to all - civilians, military, active duty. Anyone who wants to celebrate our troops.
- Exclusive Lifestyle Shirt - register before October 1st
- After October 1st the price goes DOWN but athletes will receive the socks & ornament, no shirt.
- Post Race Party Kegs N' Eggs breakfast @ Southern Tier Brewing Company in Buffalo
- Awards by age group for Veterans and Civilians.
- PRE-RACE PACKET PICK UP:
- November 8th from 11:30-1:00 & 3:30-8:00 at the Buffalo & Erie Naval Park
- Race day before the Race at the Naval Park beginning at 6:30AM
- Race Day registration is at the Buffalo Naval Park may be available, check Facebook updates for news- registration closes at 8:30AM. Cashless. Must use Venmo QR Code.
Veterans Race presented by Destination Races and Presenting Sponsor the law office of Richmond\ Vona has been honoring all who served and currently serving in our military. Our goal is to improve services towards local veteran organizations. This year, we are proud to host the race with Veterans One-Stop Center and Buffalo Naval Park. Proceeds will benefit these two groups to PRESERVE. PROTECT. and HONOR all who served.
Place
Course Map (click me)
The course is certified and marked for USATF
2021 Veterans 5K
2021 Veterans 10K
Complimentary items
Become a Sponsor
REINFORCE OUR TROOPS
Supporting our troops through the Veterans Race is affordable and easy to do. Starting as low as $250; sending in reinforcements will directly assist the Buffalo Naval Park and the veterans One-Stop Center of WNY.
Edward S. Simmons Trophy
This award is given annually to the first place Male & Female Runner of the Veterans Race in Buffalo, NY.
Edward S. Simmons, of Buffalo, a Vietnam War veteran from 1969-70; combat medic. Mr. Simmons impact on the local and national community continues to this very day. Edward was an avid runner and a founding member of the Veterans One-Stop Center.
After returning from service in Vietnam, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Buffalo. His calling was to continue supporting veterans after a grueling war and to give them the network they needed post-service. He believed with all his might, that veterans deserved the resources to reestablish themselves and that he could champion this fight.
In 1980, following his calling, he became the first director of the Veterans Helping Veterans Center in Buffalo City Hall. The Center performed exceptionally, and Edward became the local veteran’s employment representative for the state Department of Labor. He also helped established the Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program locally, which awards college scholarships to children and grandchildren of Vietnam War veterans. In 2009, he joined the state Division of Veterans Affairs as a deputy director for the Western Region.
His legacy carries on today through the Veterans One-Stop Center as he was a founding member. He held positions as a member of the advisory board and co-chairman of the Board of Directors, as well as a member of the advisory committee for the VA Medical Center.
But his accomplishments extended far beyond the One-Stop Center and the VA. Mr. Simmons was a running enthusiast, organizing the “Who Dares, Wins” relay from Buffalo to Washington D.C., also to Baltimore, Boston, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. This called attention to the need for veteran employment. Then he organized a relay-run across America from Buffalo to San Francisco in 1996. Locally, he organized the 24-Hour Run for Job in Delaware Park. Finally, he competed in three Marine Corp Marathons (1995, 1996, and 1998).
Edward S. Simmons passed away on July 16th, 2013.
On November 6th, the trophy awarded to the fastest veteran or active duty participant in the Veterans Race 5K will be officially and honorably named the “Edward S. Simmons Trophy”.
Race Website
Additional race information can be found at http://www.destinationraces.net.
Race Contact Info
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
Directions
Buffalo Naval and Military Park
