Run Gets Funds for Veteran's Home, Sept.5 and 13,"2013 Chili cook-off, fun run planned The sixth Annual George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home Fun Run and Chili Cook-Off is set for Oct. 12. The entry fee is $30, with all proceeds going to the George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home Activity Fund. The day's activities will begin at the Veterans Home, 1102 N. 1200 West, in Ogden, with run registration from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.; a veterans ceremony at 9:40 a.m.; and 5K run/1-mile walk at 10 a.m. At 11 a.m. will be the run awards and raffle at First United Methodist Church, 1339 W. 400 North, in Marriott- Slaterville (the finish line), followed at 11:30 a.m. by chili tasting/voting, horse rides, a blood drive, pumpkin patch and other activities. Registration forms for the run/walk can be found at www.fumcogdenut.org. Call the First United Methodist Church office at 801-393-5662 for more information. 5K run, chili cooks raise funds for veterans By RANDI WESTON Standard-Examiner correspondent OGDEN — Chili cooks and runners joined forces on Saturday to raise money for the recreation program at the George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home. A 5K race and 1-mile walk started at the veterans home and ended at First United Methodist Church, where a chili cook-off and a blood drive were held, and pony rides and a jump house were available for kids. P.J. Woodbury, recreation director at the veterans' home, said her job is to enhance the veterans' quality of life by keeping them engaged with recreation activities. The money raised by this event will help her do that, she said. "My role is to enhance quality of life and offer my veterans things that they could do if they lived in the community," Woodbury said. "So going out to eat, going fishing, going on rides, picnics, gardening, those things that we take for granted ... when you're in a wheelchair, is not so easy. This money adds to that program so we can do a lot more." Woodbury also added that the public is welcome to come to the veterans home and get to know their veterans. "People from the community are welcome to come and visit and tour our facility and spend time with our residents. Once you get to know them, you find out that they're a truly wonderful generation and have given us so much," Woodbury said. "I really cannot put into words how I feel about the veterans." Danny Rangel, of Los Angeles, earned the overall best time for the men's portion of the 5K and said he was im- 57 pressed with the event from the start. Rangel said he was touched to see veterans holding flags at the beginning of the race and to see the crowd of runners and veterans singing the national anthem. "I think it's a really great event that they put on to raise funds for these veterans who served our country and now need our help," Rangel said. Amilya Craven, of Pleasant View, achieved the overall bg£t. time for the women's . portion of the 5K and said, as a runner, she was happy to get out and meet fellow fitness enthusiasts. "It's a good cause, and I love things that bring people of all varieties together and all for one thing," Craven said. "It's fun to meet new people who share the same love for exercising." Kristen Bell, volunteer coordinator for the veterans' home 5K Run Walk, said the event started six years ago and raised more than $5,000 CAMERON MCLEOD/Special to the Standard-Examiner Greg Hignite crosses the finish line of the George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home 5K run on Saturday. last year for the recreation program. "This event started six years ago as a way to have some fall fun, have a friendly chili competition and do some good works in our community," Bell said. "We wanted to support the George E. Wahlen Veterans Home, and we've been giving them the proceeds so that they can put it in their activity fund for the veterans to have extra opportunities. We call this a fun run and walk because that's what it is. It is not supercompetitive, we're here to exercise, have a healthy lifestyle, visit with our friends and neighbors, and support our veterans." Bell said she and her fellow church members and volunteers were grateful for the support the event received from the community. "We just really appreciate the Ogden community's support. We had more than 40 businesses that gave us prizes and donations, and without their help this event wouldn't be as successful as it is," Bell said. "I would also like to thank P.J. and the veterans home for their co-sponsorship of this event, and all the people that came out and ran, walked, ate chili and supported the veterans with us."