Timothy R. Creager, who attended the University of Memphis and The Citadel in South Carolina, was killed in Iraq in July 2004 by an improvised explosive devise at age 21. Marines and civilians will run in the Lance Corporal Timothy R. Creager 5K Run/Walk Saturday to honor his memory.
The 5K will begin at 9 a.m. at North-82 Gym Sports and Fitness Complex. Registration is $25.
Tim's mother, Kay Creager, started the race in 2006. She initially raised money to build an endowment fund for a scholarship at Bacone College in Muskogee, Okla.
The U of M ROTC took charge of the event in 2010, and now the funds are divided between the U of M and Christian Brothers University midshipmen and the United States Marine Corp Wounded Warrior Regiment.
"When I came on board in 2010, I started sending proceeds to the Wounded Warrior Regiment," said Maj. Tracy Perry, marine officer instructor at the U of M. "The money the midshipmen receive goes to their recreational fund to do things like go out to play laser tag, rock climbing - basically build camaraderie."
The Wounded Warrior Regiment assists wounded, ill and injured Marines and their families at their two battalions located in California and North Carolina. The program provides medical and non-medical assistance.
According to its website, the regiment does not discriminate against recipients of care based on whether they were injured in the line of duty or combat. All soldiers "receive the same level of care, no matter cause of illness or injury, they are fighting marines and deserve consistent care."
The wide range of non-medical care provided includes physical therapy, counseling and support on issues such as housing adaptation, employment, education assistance, financial management and planning, and benefits and information access.
Runners can unleash their inner warrior at the race's concluding pull-up competition.
"We do the pull up competition as people are finishing the race - most of the marines do around 20 pull ups. The marine that won last year did 24," Perry said. "The rule is that you cannot use your body for momentum. They have to be authentic dead-hang pull ups."
Last year, pull-up contest participants were given Chick-Fil-A sandwiches as prizes.
In addition to the race, Perry has decided to put on a car invitational where "jeep enthusiasts can come and show off how well they maintain their vehicles."
"This is the first year for us to put this on, and hopefully, the potential rain won't ruin the event," Perry said. "It is a great way to bring more people out."
C.W. Crawford, U of M ROTC Human Resource manager, has been retired from the Navy for 24 years but still believes in supporting his fellow soldiers.
"We do this race for a good cause. I want to support him, because he is a fellow Memphian. We always have over 100 participants in the race," Crawford said. "We do not just encourage students at the University to participate but people from all over as well as Mississippi, Arkansas and other neighboring states. We have put flyers in a lot of different places."
