Events and Activities : 5th and Final Flaughless 5K set for Saturday; on-line registration ends tonight

There is still time to register for the 5th and Final Flaughless 5K, a memorial event for U.S. Army soldier and Vinton native Dan Flaugh. The event will be on Saturday, October 15, 2016 at Riverside Park in Vinton and will be benefiting Retrieving Freedom, Inc. (RFI), a local nonprofit that trains service dogs for veterans. Online registration will end on October 13 but participants may register in person the morning of the event beginning at 8 a.m. The 5K will begin at 10 a.m. and includes an optional 2-mile walking route. A one-mile kid's fun run has been added this year and will begin at 11 a.m. after the main race concludes. The awards ceremony will follow the fun run at approximately 11:15 a.m. "The past five years have been a rewarding and humbling experience for Dan's family and me as we have seen the outpouring of love and support from the community at each event,"� said Georgia Sysouchanh, Flaughless 5K Race Director. "It's bittersweet to bring this event to a close, but I hope that people will continue to support our veterans through Retrieving Freedom and other organizations benefitting veterans."� Representatives from Retrieving Freedom, Inc., including Scott Dewey, Co-President and Co-Founder, and Keegan Birkicht, Program Director, will be in attendance to answer questions about the organization. They will also be selling merchandise to raise money for RFI. Dewey, who oversees operations at the Waverly facility, will speak before the race. Service dogs that have completed or are currently in the Retrieving Freedom training program will also be at the event to represent RFI. "Retrieving Freedom is honored to be a part of the 5th and Final Flaughless 5K. We look forward to this event to celebrate our freedoms, thank our veterans, and remember those lost too soon," said Birkicht. Race Day Information Parking:Parking around Riverside Park is limited and we recommend finding a spot along the residential side streets. Check-In and Registration:Participants will collect their race packets and t-shirts from the check-in/registration table outside the round shelter at Riverside Park (or inside the shelter if there is inclement weather) across the street from Virginia Gay Hospital. Opening Ceremony:There will be a short opening ceremony near the new fountain in front of Virginia Gay Hospital at approximately 9:45 a.m. Races:The 5K race will begin at 10 a.m. and will include the 2-mile optional walking route. The one-mile kid's fun run will begin at 11 a.m. Awards:Following the races, at approximately 11:15 a.m., there will be an awards ceremony with customized military-style dog tags handed out to men and women for first, second, and third place in all age categories. Overall men's and women's champion trophies will be awarded for the 5K and overall boy's and girl's champion trophies will be awarded for the kid's fun run. Volunteers:We'll need lots of volunteers before, during and after the race. If you're interested in volunteering, please check in at the registration table the morning of the race. Weather Cancellation:The Flaughless 5K will go on rain or shine. About the Flaughless 5K Dan Flaugh was a SPC E4, Calvary Scout in the United States Army and served his country on the front line as a Re-Con Scout of Bush's Surge on Baghdad, Iraq. Dan was honorably discharged from the Army in 2008. In December 2011, after struggling with PTSD and depression, Dan took his own life. The Flaughless 5K was started by Dan's friends and family in 2012 as a memorial to Dan and a tribute to all service members struggling with the mental and physical damages of war. The proceeds from the Flaughless 5K benefit Retrieving Freedom, Inc., a local nonprofit that trains service dogs for veterans. Visit getmeregistered.com/flaughless5k to register. About Retrieving Freedom, Inc. Retrieving Freedom, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to training service dogs to help people. Our three primary focuses are training dogs to serve the needs of veterans, children with autism and individuals living with diabetes. We breed and train chosen dogs that exhibit specific traits necessary to perform tasks to help these individuals, and we believe in matching the dog to the recipient. Our training program isn't designed to train each dog to follow a certain program. Instead, dogs are trained to meet the needs of their specific recipient. The dogs go through more than two years of training to meet our strict standards for a successful placement. RFI operates out of two locations, Waverly, Iowa, and Senatobia, Mississippi, as candidate members of Assistance Dogs International. The service dogs we train help improve the lives of the people they are placed with. Not only do they help with specific chores and perform tasks associated with their training, but they also offer companionship and unconditional love. To get involved and learn more, visit https://www.retrievingfreedom.org.