September 18, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs Suicide Prevention Team and Richland Community College will host the 4th annual Operation Obstacle this Saturday, September 21st.
Check-in for the timed, two-mile obstacle course begins at 8:30 am and the race begins at 10:15 am at the Workforce Development Institute at Richland Community College.
The registration is online only through Race Roster and will be cut off at 9:30 am on race day. You must be 18 years of age to participate. To register, click HERE.
“VA Illiana’s Suicide Prevention Team’s collaboration with the Richland Community College Fitness Center brings community awareness to the 17 Veterans that die each day by suicide and gives opportunity for our Suicide Prevention Team to make connections with the community, Service Members, Veterans, and their families. The VA can’t do it alone. We need our community partners like Richland Community College to help us care for our Veterans and to intervene when someone is in distress,” according to Hannah Jordan, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Suicide Prevention Case Manager for VA Illiana.
This year is extra special because it is on the same day as International Peace Day. The event is open to the public along with Richland students and employees taking part in the race and participating as volunteers.
Fun physical obstacles, finishers challenge medals, goodie bags and snacks/water will be available for all finishers. You can also participate in the non-competitive fun run and skip the obstacles. Event t-shirts are available in the registration process. Also, trophies will be awarded to the top 3-Male & Female finishers.
There will be a brief opening Veterans honorary ceremony with the presentation of the flag, national anthem and brief speech from the VA Illiana Suicide Prevention Team. Proceeds will also support Richland Community College’s Student Veteran’s Resource Center to help student Veterans and Servicemembers overcome financial obstacles to education and it provides free Veterans resources and services.
