Details unveiled for third annual Heroes Run/Walk
Chattanooga and Hamilton County leaders announced Tuesday morning details for the third annual Chattanooga Heroes Run/Walk in the Tennessee Riverpark’s Hubert Fry Center. The event will be held July 14 and will look much like previous iterations of the race.
“With the Heroes Run, it brings awareness about what occurred on that particular day, but it also gives the community an opportunity to give back,” Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger said.
The Chattanooga Heroes Run/Walk is held in memory of the five servicemen killed in the July 16, 2015, domestic terror attacks. Proceeds of the event are donated to help fund the construction of a permanent memorial planned for the riverpark at the request of the families of the Fallen Five: Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, Staff Sgt. David Wyatt, Sgt. Carson Holmquist, Lance Cpl. Squire K. Wells and Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Randall Smith. The servicemen’s families will attend the
event to kick off the race and greet runners and walkers at the end.
City leaders expect to hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the memorial about a week after this year’s event, according to city director of public art Katelyn Kirnie. The budget for the project is $750,000. The city is still attempting to raise the final portion of funds needed to build the memorial.
“The No. 1 question Mayor Coppinger and I get is ‘How can I help?’” Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke said. “Want to know how you can help? Run the heroes run.”
The event will have a 5-mile loop course that starts and ends at the riverpark. The official start will be at the Naval Operational Support Center and Marine Corps Reserve Center where the attack took place. It will end at
“The No. 1 question Mayor Coppinger and I get is ‘How can I help?’ Want to know how you can help? Run the heroes run.”
— CHATTANOOGA MAYOR ANDY BERKE
the nearby Hubert Fry Center. The race is scheduled for 8 a.m. A 1-mile kids run will take place after the walk/run at 10 a.m. Registration is available at chattanoogaheroesrun.com for $35. The kids run costs $15.