In an effort to show our unified support for the sacrifices made by this nation's soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and coastguardsmen and the men and women serving beside them in coalition forces in the Global War on Terrorism, the Veterans of the Vietnam War, Inc. (VVnW) is seeking men and women from all coalition nations to participate in the VVnW sponsored "24-Hour Run for the Troops" on May 29th and 30th starting at 1200 hrs Greenwich Mean Time. Runners can participate as members of a team or as individuals to challenge their own personal limits by running for a full 24-hour period on a track or predetermined course. Their effort will be symbolic of the hardships and sacrifices of troops combating terrorism throughout the world.

Teams and individual participants will join each other in spirit across the world as they all start their 24-hour runs at the same time. The goals of this event are to demonstrate a global, unified front in support of our troops by simultaneously conducting events worldwide and to raise needed funds in support of the "VVnW Military Support Package" program. Teams and individual runners will raise funds by soliciting pledges through mile and/or hour sponsorship and general donations.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
If you are a citizen and/or troop of a coalition nation, join us in supporting our troops as they continue to protect the freedom of democracies across the world. As Maj. Marc Hoffmeister of the U.S. Army states, "this is an opportunity to show the world that troops of freedom are united in the effort to fight terrorism." Maj. Hoffmeister is part of a team running in Iraq.

If you are interested in starting a team, running as an individual, or joining an established team near you please contact VVnW at 1-800-VIETNAM or email at vvnwnatl@epix.net. For more information about the "24 Hour Run for the Troops" or about the "VVnW Military Support Packages," please visit www.vvnw.org.

About VVnW

Veterans of the Vietnam War, Inc. (VVnW) is an international non-profit accredited veteran service organization devoted to caring for and empowering all American and Allied Veterans and their families through the following programs: Veterans in Need, Support and Gratitude, Esprit de Corps, Case Management and Advocacy and Veteran and Community Outreach and Education. VVnW, a benevolent organization founded in 1978, was born out of a need to have the service and special needs of Vietnam War Veterans recognized and acknowledged. Traditional Veterans organizations were unwilling to accept the service of Vietnam Veterans, as well as Veterans of other eras. Today, VVnW is comprised of 94 posts worldwide sustaining the mission of the organization. VVnW continues to strive through its many programs to maintain, improve, preserve and defend the quality of life of all veterans and their families. VVnW programs include the United Veterans Beacon House, a transitional homeless veterans housing and reintegration program, Military Support Package Project for military serving overseas and Support Packages to veteran families, Veteran Service Officers (VSOs), Veterans in Conflict with the Law (Incarcerated Veterans), Team Veteran Leader (a competitive military adventure racing team), Veteran information services, casework assistance, counseling resources and referral, 24-hour 1-800-VIETNAM phone line, Veteran Leader newsletter, VVnW websites, Education and Scholarship Programs, FIND-A-VET Locator program to help reunite Vietnam era veterans, Flag Awareness and community services. VVnW is recognized by the IRS as a 501 (c) (19) non-profit veterans service organization with a federal ID #23-2151579 and manages the Veterans Fund of the United States with an IRS determination of 501 (c) (3) and ID #23-2897794.