News : First Flaughless 5K raised $10K for Wounded Warriors

Wristbands and other items remember Dan Flaugh; the first Flaughless 5K race is today.

Ryan Flaugh speaks about Dan before the first Flaughless 5K, with Georgia Meeker and Lisa Horak.

Veterans salute the runners and walkers as the Flaughless 5K begins.

Zach Downs-Obadal and Julie Grove were the overall men's and women's winners of the Flaughless 5K.

Libbie Timmerman, one of Dan's second cousins, was a race winner in her age group.

Dan Flaugh's niece Sydnee and nephews Nic and Cade hand out gift bags after the race.

Dr. Brian Meeker discusses race results with Georgia Meeker and Lisa Horak.

Dan's classmates Charley Cronk & Robbie Schwenker were among the winners of the first Flaughless 5K.

For years, Charlie Cronk and Robbie Schwenker ran with Dan Flaugh. They were Dan's teammates on Vinton-Shellsburg cross country teams for four years.

On Saturday, Charlie and Robbie ran again; but this time they ran in Dan's memory. Charlie and Robbie were among the fastest runners in the age 20-29 men category in the first ever (and first annual) Flaughless 5K event that honors Dan, the former U.S. soldier who returned from the war on terrorism physically unhurt but bearing emotional wounds that led him to take his own life last December.

Charlie and Robbie were among close to 500 participants -- including friends, relatives, classmates, fellow soldiers and others whose lives Dan had touched -- who ran or walked during Saturday's events.

Dan's brother, Ryan, thanked the participants for coming during a ceremony before the race. He shared some stories about Dan and also urged families of soldiers returning from Iraq or Afghanistan to beware of the warning signs of PTSD and find a way to help them. Friends Georgia Meeker and Lisa Horak led the effort to organize the event.

Thanks to many sponsors, hundreds of participants and many donors, the event raised $10,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project.

Riverside Park began to get busy before 8 a.m. Saturday morning as volunteers and runners began preparing for the First Annual Flaughless 5K race.

See the official Flaughless 5K web site, which now includes downloadable race results, HERE.

Official Press Release below:

Saturday, October 27 marked the first annual Flaughless 5K, a memory run/walk in honor of Dan Flaugh, a former soldier and resident of Vinton who took his own life in December 2011. Between the runners, walkers, volunteers, family, friends and spectators, more than 500 people attended at Riverside Park in Vinton. Because of the generous donations from more than 80 sponsors and more than 475 registrations, A Flaughless 5K raised $10,000 to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

“We were in shock to say the least,” said Georgia Meeker Sysouchanh, who coordinated the event, “When we were told the final total that we raised that morning, combined with what we already had, we couldn’t believe it. $10,000 for our first year is phenomenal.”

“We’ve definitely set the bar high,” said Lisa Horak, who also helped coordinate the event, “We’re already talking about plans for next year’s event.”

Dan’s parents, Jim & Kathy Flaugh, released this message: “The family of Dan Flaugh would like to express a huge thank you to all of the sponsors, runners, walkers, volunteers, friends and those who made donations to our cause. It wouldn’t have happened without the hard work of Georgia Sysouchanh and Lisa Horak who devoted so much of their time and energy to organize this event. Because of everyone’s hard work and generosity, $10,000 was donated to the Wounded Warrior Project. We are so fortunate to live in a fantastic community like Vinton. You all ROCK!!!”
No date has been set for the 2nd Annual Flaughless 5K, but organizers plan to announce that information early next year. Visit www.flaughless.com for more details.

About Dan Flaugh

Dan Flaugh was a 2004 graduate of Washington High School in Vinton and a SPC E4, Calvary Scout in the United States Army. He went to Boot Camp in August 2005 at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Dan served his country on the front line as a Re-Con Scout of Bush’s Surge on Baghdad, Iraq. Dan was a proud soldier and always carried candy in his pocket for the Iraqi children. He was honorably discharged from the Army on November of 2008.

About Wounded Warrior Project TM

The mission of Wounded Warrior Project™ (WWP) is to honor and empower wounded warriors. WWP’s purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.