Fallen Solders 5K

Fallen Soldiers 5K Run/Walk | October 30, 2021

Fallen Soldiers 5K Logo

About

Each year, Western Illinois University hosts the Fallen Soldiers 5K to raise money for the WIU Fallen Soldiers Scholarship Fund, which supports veterans and service members currently enrolled at Western. Before the race, a special program is held to honor our Fallen Soldiers for whom the scholarship was established and recognize the current scholarship recipients. This race typically brings in 400 - 500 participants to WIU's campus that come together to support this wonderful cause.

Contact

Fallen Soldiers | fallensoldiers5k@wiu.edu

Committee Chairs

Holly Sutton | 309-298-1861 | HS-Sutton@ wiu . edu
Brian Thomas | 309-298-1228 | BM-Thomas2@wiu.edu
Abbie Pendarvis | 309-298-1861 | AE-Pendarvis@wiu.edu

Sponsors

Mile Marker Sponsor
Other Race Sponsors
  • Prairie Farms
  • McDonald's of Macomb
Honor a Vet Sponsors

Fallen Soldiers

The event is designed as a fundraiser for the Fallen Soldier's Scholarship Fund in honor of two WIU alumni who were killed in the line of duty. Capt. Derek Dobogai and Lt. Col. Robert Baldwin.

Dobogai, who graduated from Western in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in law enforcement and justice administration, was among the 14 U.S. soldiers aboard a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed Aug. 22, 2007 in northern Iraq.

Capt. Derek Dobogai

Baldwin, who earned a bachelor's degree in industrial technology from WIU in 1993, was killed Sept. 21, 2010 when his Blackhawk UH-60 helicopter carrying Navy SEALs crashed during combat operations in the Zabul province of Afghanistan.

Lt. Col. Robert Baldwin