Operation: Heal Our Heroes Presenting Inaugural “Survivor Series: Montauk” 5K

Operation: Heal Our Heroes (HOH), a 501(c)3 non-profit veteran’s organization, will launch its Survivor Series: Montauk 5K Race on Saturday, August 20th at Eddie Ecker County Park in Montauk.

“Montauk was an easy choice to launch our Survivor Series,” explained HOH Co-Founder Everett Weston. “We believe that by enhancing the understanding of the mental health issues that some of our veterans endure, such a close knit community as Montauk – which is already a huge supporter of veterans – would be able to facilitate help among the local support channels in the Hamptons.”

“Furthermore, our overall mission aims to prevent any more veterans from being part of the staggering suicide epidemic which has already decreased this year from 22 veterans a day, to 20,” added HOH Co-Founder Patrick Bolchoz.

Montauk local and former Marine Sergeant John Behan, who lost both his legs during the Vietnam War, will serve as the honorary race starter of the Survivor Series: Montauk 5K Race. Participants will traverse along the trails around Edward Ecker County Park, and once they’ve completed the 5K will spend the morning competing in team-building activities that revolve around fitness and community involvement. Racers can register as an individual or as a team of five by taking the HOH team pledge.

HOH is dedicated “to raising awareness and resources to help end the suicide epidemic taking the lives of nearly 20 veterans each day due to their suffering from service-related Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS).” For every $5,000 the organization raises, HOH is able to offer one veteran with unlimited access to private mental healthcare services for the entirety of his or her life. HOH’s goal for the debut Montauk event is to raise $50,000, so they can grant 10 veterans with a lifetime of private mental health care services and assistant via a program at the Weil Cornell Medical Center that is offered through The Headstrong Project.

Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the race begins at 10 a.m. The entry fee is $100 for Individual Participation for the 5K Fun Run / Walk. For the HOH Team Challenge, $1,000 deposit for a team of five is required and the team must raise $5,000. After raising the $5,000, the $1,000 deposit will be refunded. Participants will receive an HOH swag bag that includes a T-shirt and other items, as well as an action photograph from the competition. The Operation Heal Our Heroes: Survivor Series + After Party will take place at Navy Road Park until 2 p.m. and admission is $40.

For more information, visit www.operationhoh.com.