August 24, 2012 - The 2nd Annual Houston 9/11 Heroes Run

At 8 a.m. on Saturday, September 8th, the second annual Houston 9/11 Heroes Run - a 5k to honor fallen American heroes - will start at Ellington Airport (11602 Aerospace Drive).

For more information or registration, visit www.911heroesrun.com and www.eventbrite.com.

The Travis Manion Foundation expects more than 50,000 Americans - including 25,000 registered runners - to come out across the nation to run, volunteer, donate and cheer. But, most of all, participants will honor the more than 9,000 men and women who gave their lives on 9/11 and since.

Inspired by one Marine's pre-deployment visit with New York City firefighters, the 9/11 Heroes Run started as a small town event in suburban Philadelphia to honor all those who serve our country in uniform. That initial 5K race has grown to more than 35 runs this year, including races in Iraq, Afghanistan, Guam, Italy, England, and on a ship in the Persian Gulf.

"It's a great honor to help with this run each year," said race director and Houston Police Department Captain Greg Fremin. "We all know someone who's lost a loved one, a family member, or a friend serving in uniform in the last 10 years. The 9/11 Heroes Run gives us a chance to come together as a community to honor the fallen and bring healing to families and friends who still grieve," said Captain Fremin.

1st Lt Travis Manion, USMC, visited Rescue One in New York City before leaving for his second tour in Iraq and came home with a ball cap for his father that said "9/11 Never Forget." Travis - a 2004 Naval Academy graduate - was killed in combat just a few months later and his family members dedicated themselves to honoring the fallen by challenging the living and starting the 9/11 Heroes Run.

Thanks to generous assistance from Comcast, Planet Fitness, JWT, CBS Radio, Lone Star Chevrolet and Ron Craft Chevrolet, and other great organizations and individuals across America, the Travis Manion Foundation has been able to offer the 9/11 Heroes Run to communities across the country on the 11th anniversary of the attacks on America.

Created in 2007 after the combat death of 1st Lt. Travis Manion, USMC, in Fallujah, Iraq, the Travis Manion Foundation is committed to honoring the fallen by challenging the living. The foundation's goal is to ensure the love of country and spirit of service exemplified by this generation of Fallen Heroes lives on. Learn more at www.TravisManion.com.

JKS/JFC 8-24-12