Hoorah Run raises money for Chico State Student Veterans Organization
CHICO » Runners hit the pavement hard during the fourth annual Hoorah Run at Chico State Thursday.
The event, which raised money for the Chico State Student Veterans Organization, began at 8 a.m. near Kendall Hall. Runners ran 3.1 miles through town and campus and returned to Kendall Hall, where they were treated to beef jerky donated by Chico Meat Lab at the university farm, bananas, water and granola bars. Runners paid $20 to register which was donated to the SVO.
“I think it’s great we get to do it on Veterans Day,” said SVO president and business administration major Jessica Eagles. Eagles is serving in the Army National Guard.
The event had 82 people pre-registered for it and there were 103 runners.
“We get to be active and support our runners”, said Kendall Ross, director of recreational sports at Chico State. Recreational sports helped organize the event.
“It’s great that we’re doing a COVID-19 friendly event since the event is outside. We get to get out and be active on a holiday.”
Annie Asplund, who also works at recreational sports, helped check runners in and handed out Hoorah Run t-shirts.
“I’m super excited,” Asplund said. “I have friends that are running. It’s a good cause.”
Mike Guzzi was the event’s host and gave a rousing pep talk to runners and community members before the race. He served in the Navy for 20 years and graduated from Chico State.
“We’re doing two things, raising money for student veterans and highlighting our campus grounds,” Guzzi said. Guzzi ran the entire course clutching an American flag. Guzzi was happy at the crowd turnout and the weather.
“The weather is perfect,” he said. ” It gives us the opportunity to raise money for vets.”
Guzzi served in Iraq in the construction battalion.
“It’s important to say thank you to veterans and also their families,” he said. Guzzi is giving out $1,000 scholarships to student veterans.
Guzzi explained the significance of calling the race the Hoorah run.
“It’s cool to see the campus and community here,” Guzzi said. “It’s called the Hoorah run because that is what we yell in the Navy.”
Chico State engineering student Arlene Castillo ran in the race and rested by sitting on a wall afterward.
“I came here to be active as a student,” Castillo said. “I wanted to support the community doing something I love.”
Castillo ran in high school. “It’s a sport I genuinely enjoy,” she said. “I really like it. There’s a sense of community.”
According to a press release, Chico State is a nationally recognized leader in serving those who served our country, having been named a 2020 and 2021 military-friendly school by the organization Military Friendly. Additionally, GI Jobs has listed the University as a militaryfriendly School every year since 2010 and Military Advanced Education has listed Chico State as one of its top schools six times since 2010.