You can support area veterans by registering now for the 2013 Warrior Challenge 5K/10K Race to be held Sunday, Nov. 10, at Middle Tennessee State University.

Malcolm Stallard

Proceeds will benefit the newly reorganized Blue Raider American Veterans Organization, better known as BRAVO, as well as race partner Vet6, a Middle Tennessee advocacy organization that helps veterans secure good jobs.

MTSU sophomore Malcolm Stallard, president of BRAVO, said race organizers are “trying to get up to 1,000 people” to register for the race, which will start at 8 a.m. near the MTSU Veterans Memorial adjacent to the Tom Jackson Building. Chip timing will be used for all racers.

Entry fee is $25 for veterans, $30 for nonveterans. To register and learn more, go to http://warriorchallenge2013.com or register through Facebook by searching for “Warrior Challenge 2013.”

Stallard, who served in Iraq from 2009 to 2010 and has served in the U.S. Army since 2008, said BRAVO currently has 250-plus members. A portion of race proceeds will go toward BRAVO’s emergency relief fund, which is used to assist veterans and their families who are having financial troubles.

“It’s a support for the veterans,” said Stallard, a social work major now living in Manchester, Tenn. “We address issues to faculty members on behalf of the veteran population. We are here for veterans if they want to talk. We have a mentoring program set up.”

Dr. Hilary Stallings, manager of recruitment and resources for the MTSU College of Liberal Arts, serves on the university’s Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, representing a core group of faculty and staff supporting student veterans on campus.

An avid runner herself, Stallings is encouraging the community to register.

“This is going to be a great race — good time of year to run, beautiful campus, unbelievable cause,” Stallings said.

“I run a lot of races a year, but my favorites are the ones in support of military/veterans. Feels good to have a way to be able to honor their efforts.”

In spring 2013, about a thousand MTSU students were attending the university on GI benefits. Meanwhile, Middle Tennessee is home to more than 10,000 veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

MTSU remains the first choice in higher education for Tennessee’s veterans. And with services such as the VetSuccess office and military affairs center, for the third consecutive year, G.I. Jobs magazine has designated MTSU a “military-friendly campus.”

For more information about BRAVO, contact Stallard at 1-877-837-4635 or email mtsu@vet6.org. To learn more about Vet6, visit www.vet6.org.

— Jimmy Hart (jimmy.hart@mtsu.edu)