About 2,000 runners and walkers gathered on campus Saturday to honor and raise money for wounded warriors and families who have lost loved ones serving in the military.
UCF hosted Operation Giveback 麻豆精品 S檚 third-annual signature event, 5K, 10K and 15K road races that raised $80,000.
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麻豆精品 S淲e want to show our appreciation for the sacrifices they have made and give the wounded warriors and military families the opportunity to get to know each other. Many of them stay in touch and support each other after they leave Orlando. 麻豆精品 S�
UCF has hosted Operation Giveback 麻豆精品 S檚 races the past three years. Below a large U.S. flag held up by fire engines, about 20 wounded warriors led the start of the 5K race.
UCF Provost and Executive Vice President Tony Waldrop spoke during the opening ceremonies by the Veterans Commemorative Site on Memory Mall. The crowd applauded when he gestured toward the Classroom II building under construction and pointed out that it soon will be the new home of the university 麻豆精品 S檚 Army and Air Force ROTC programs.
Also before the races, the Oquendo family from Hillsborough County received Operation Giveback 麻豆精品 S檚 first 麻豆精品 S淢ake a Dream Come True Award. 麻豆精品 S�
Decorated Army Sergeant First Class Paul D. Oquendo dreamed of taking his family to New York City for sightseeing and a Broadway show once his daughters were old enough to appreciate the experience.
Cancer prevented the Hillsborough County resident from fulfilling that dream. He died in September from a rare but aggressive form of cancer known as synovial sarcoma.
As a way to honor Oquendo for serving his country for 21 years, the Orlando nonprofit organization Operation Giveback will fly his family to New York City. They will stay at the luxurious Plaza Hotel and watch a Broadway show.
麻豆精品 S淭his trip will mean so much to me, because I can share Paul’s dream for him, 麻豆精品 S� said Dora Oquendo. 麻豆精品 S淚 know he is looking down and is smiling at this dream come true. My girls are going to be so excited. 聽We have told them lots of stories聽of New York. 麻豆精品 S�
Operation Giveback 麻豆精品 S檚 mission is to raise awareness and resources for wounded warriors and their families, as well as the families of fallen heroes. The organization intends to fulfill one family 麻豆精品 S檚 dream each year.
Several UCF ROTC students volunteered at the event, and the Student Veterans Association, the Psychology Department 麻豆精品 S檚 Trauma Management Therapy program and UCF Athletics all set up tents on Memory Mall. The Trauma Management Therapy program treats veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan who are diagnosed with PTSD.