Grateful Nation Montana celebrates 10th year of annual Freedom Run

The Grateful Nation Montana annual Freedom Run celebrates 10 years this Fourth of July with their yearly race beginning in downtown Bigfork. The event, which precedes the Bigfork Fourth of July Parade, draws a crowd of more than 400 runners each year who run to honor Montana’s fallen military servicemen.

Grateful Nation Montana is a nonprofit organization that was formed in 2008 by attorney John McCarrick and Missoula businessman David Bell. The two men noted how many soldiers were perishing overseas and discussed over lunch what would matter most to them if they were the ones being called to war.

“We would want the education of our kids to be secured,” Bell recalled.

With that mission in mind, Grateful Nation Montana was born. Grateful Nation pays in-state tuition fees for children of fallen Montana military members and works with partnering organizations, Children of Fallen Patriots, to cover the cost of out-of-state tuition. Currently, Grateful Nation is covering college tuition for two students attending college in Montana along with a handful of others at schools across the country. To date, forty-three Montana men have died fighting in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Bell’s wife, Brittany, came up with the idea for a 5K run 10 years ago and the race now serves as a holiday tradition for many of the participating families. A number of gold star families also attend the run each year, Bell noted.

“It’s special to see so many familiar faces year after year,” Bell said. “It gives us an opportunity to continually remind these families that these boys aren’t forgotten.”

For Bell, the race is more about togetherness than it is a primary fundraising event for Grateful Nation, though 100% of the profits from the event will go toward scholarships.

“There’s a lot of polarization — everybody is disagreeing about something these days — but on the Fourth of July … we can all come together and celebrate this great country and the great people who have stood in harm’s way to defend this country,” Bell said.

To sign up as a participant or volunteer or to make a contribution to Grateful Nation Montana, visit www.gratefulnationmontana.com. Check-in for the Grateful Nation Montana 10th annual Freedom 5K begins at 8 a.m. on July 4 at Lake Baked, located at 191 Mill Street. The run starts at 9 a.m. and follows the Swan River Nature Trail.