ELIZABETHTOWN — The third annual Elizabethtown Rotary Club 8K Trail Run and 1-Mile Fun Walk to benefit the USO of N.C. is set for Saturday, Nov. 11, at 8:30 a.m. at the Brown’s Creek Nature Park and Bike Trail. It is sponsored by Emereau:Bladen, Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery, McDonald’s, Healthworks Fitness and Wellness and Waste Industries.

“This is our third year conducting this event (and) we are very pleased to partner again this year with the USO of N.C. for our 8K Trail Run and 1-Mile Fun Walk. The event is going to be a great benefit for our community because it will give us an opportunity to showcase our town to those ser-vice members from Ft. Bragg who take part in the event each year,” said Rotarian Event Chairman Eddie Madden. “It is also going to be great because we will be raising money for service members and their families who need our support. Elizabethtown has a tremendous opportunity to show our appreciation for the USO and I hope that every citizen and business owner will rise to the occasion and each of them feel welcome when they roll into town on Nov. 11.”

The club’s goal is to raise $15,000 and the Elizabethtown Rotary Club needs your help in meeting this commitment.

USO of N.C. was founded in 1941 and serves the armed forces personnel stationed in North Carolina and provides support for their families. The USO-NC provides services to service mem-bers such as assistance with Rack Packs, care packages, deployments and homecomings. The USO of N.C. also offers a variety of support services and programs to military families who are left behind during deployments and experiencing such things as emotional, psychological and financial stresses.

With veterans counted among their membership, the Elizabethtown Rotary Club understands what it means to military families to have that support network from USO of N.C. when they are away from home. The club is proud and excited to have this opportunity to give back to our men and women in uniform.

“I’m really excited the Elizabethtown Rotary Club will have this opportunity to support the USO with its efforts by supporting our troops by hosting the 8K Trail Run and 1-Mile Fun Walk. We are pleased to have our service members from Ft. Bragg to come out to the Brown’s Creek Na-ture Trail and Bike Park and experience the trail first-hand. I am very pleased to have the oppor-tunity to invite public to come out and cheer on our participants and help our club to reach goal!,” said President Anne Beyer.

She also encouraged residents to consider sponsoring a veteran or service member for the event by contributing $25 towards the registration fee.

Rotarian Billie Hall said there will also be an opportunity to recognize the veterans during our event. You are invited to enter the 1 Mile Fun Walk in honor or memory of a veteran. Veterans will be recognized during the walk and a balloon release with the names of veterans will take place at the end of the walk.

Registration for the race may be done online at www.runsignup.com. Registration is $25 per person. There will be cash awards given for first, second and third place in the men’s and women’s and youth divisions.

Registration packets for the race may be picked up on Friday, Nov. 10, at the Cape Fear Farmer’s Market in Elizabethtown, or on the morning of the event at 7:30 a.m. The race will begin promptly at 8:30 am.

Staff report