News : Flaughless 5K raises $20K for Wounded Warrior Project

Georgia Sysouchanh and Lisa Horak listen to Jeremiah Pauley of the WWP speak at the Flaughless 5K.

Runners await the start of the 4th annual Flaughless 5K.

Veteran John Whitson honored his cousin's son with the color guard and walking the Flaughless 5K.

The hundreds of participants in the 4th annual Flaughless 5K celebrated the success of their effort, which raised an event-record $20,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project.

However, the event was also a reminder of the continued need for help for those who have fought America's wars. One of the scheduled speakers was unavailable to participate because he had to attend the funeral of a fellow Marine who recently committed suicide.

Co-organizers Georgia Meeker Sysouchanh and Lisa Horak were classmates of 2004 Vinton-Shellsburg graduate Dan Flaugh, who committed suicide in 2011, after serving in combat duty in Iraq. Sysouchanh and Meeker organized the first Flaughless 5K in 2012.

Sysouchanh reminded the audience of several hundred that an average of 22 veterans commit suicide each day. One of the speakers was Jeremiah Pauley, who has been working for years with the Wounded Warrior Project. Pauleytold the audience that he was injured in Iraq, and lost a good friend there. The morning after contemplating suicide, he received a call asking him to join the WWP.

Several of Dan Flaugh's family members, including parents Jim and Kathy, joined Meeker and Sysouchanh at the event. Many of the race winners were Dan's friends or relatives, including his cousin Libbie Timmerman, who was the first female to cross the finish line. Her younger sister, Hanna, also was among the first female finishers. Charley Cronk, a cross country teammate of Dan's who races while wearing one of Dan's high school cross country t-shirts, also was among the first to finish.

John Whitson, a cousin of Kathy Flaugh, honored his fallen relative, first by being part of the color guard, and later by walking the entire 5K route in the suit he wears for official function.

"I haven't worn this shirt since last year's race," said Cronk.

See more photos HERE.

See the Flaughless 5K web page HERE.

Race results will be available soon.