A Hernando community tradition continues Saturday, Sept. 7, when the Hernando County YMCA presents the 2024 Freedom Run: 5K Run and 1 Mile Walk to Remember, an event held in divine tribute to all whose lives were forever changed by the events of Sept. 11, 2001. The event starts with a 7:30 a.m. registration at the site, Brooksville Airport, 16485 Runway Drive, Brooksville. The program commences at 8 a.m., with the race beginning at 8:30 a.m.
The Hernando County YMCA is a division of a leading non-profit committed to strengthening the community. The YMCA of the Suncoast is a cause-driven charitable organization that stands for youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, serving more than 90,000 men, women and children through eight locations and more than 60 before-and after-school sites in Citrus, Hernando, Pasco and Pinellas counties.
“Let’s come together as a community to honor those who lost their lives on that tragic day,” read a Freedom Run event notice, “and pay tribute to the heroes who made America proud.”
Kent Reiber, executive director at the Hernando County YMCA, says that this event is a longstanding tradition at the agency that brings people together to remember, reflect, and have a lot of fun in the process. “For years now, the Freedom Run has been an important event for us at the Y,” he said.
Aside from being a fun athletic activity, the Freedom Run serves as an annual memorial of and tribute to those who gave all on 9/11. “This is for the first responders who gave so much,” said Reiber. “This is for all who helped that day. And this is for those who lost their lives.”
And at the Freedom Run, according to Reiber, Hernando County emergency services will be well represented. “We’ll see representatives of the Hernando fire department, Sheriff Nienhuis and the officers of the police department,” said Reiber. “We’ll have emergency vehicles on display.”
Reiber said this year’s Freedom Run/Walk to Remember boasts an exciting new feature. “Participants will be able to time their walks and runs this year,” he said.
This year’s event is sponsored by TGH Brooksville & TGH Spring Hill, Massey Services, Inc., Family Chiropractic Center for Wellness, Rehability Prosthetics & Orthotics & Rehabilitation, Accent Carpet & Tile, and Hernando Community Coalition.
Registration for the Freedom Run: 5K Run and 1 Mile Walk to Remember is $15 per person, per event; those who wish to purchase a unique event T-shirt with a Freedom Run logo will pay an additional $15. Sponsorships are also available at various levels. To register in advance for the run/walk, visit the Hernando County YMCA at 1300 Mariner Boulevard, Spring Hill, 1300 Mariner Boulevard, Spring Hill, or visit https://www.classy.org/event/hernando-county-ymca-freedom-run-2024/e591285.
“On Sept. 11, people came together to help and support each other,” said Reiber. “In service to the community, the Hernando YMCA wants to unite everyone for the Freedom Run. This is part of our mission here at the Y: to bring the community together.”
