Matthew England 5K memorial run/walk is Nov. 4

This year’s Matthew J. England 5K Memorial Run/Walk will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, on the Gainesville square – or wherever participants walk or run the distance in memory of the Ozark County soldier who was killed in action on June 8, 2011, in Iraq. England died when the vehicle he was driving struck an improvised explosive device. He was 22.

In Gainesville, the run/walk begins in front of Century Bank of the Ozarks. The $25 registration fee includes a T-shirt, memorial dog tag and race bib. T-shirts alone are $20 each. The event, organized by England’s mother and stepdad, Pamela and Joe Hengen, raises funds for the PFC Matthew J. England Memorial Scholarship Fund. 

To register, visit http://matthewjenglandmemorial.weebly.com and click on “More” to find the registration page. Or complete the registration form on page 12 of this week’s Times and return it to the Ozark County Times office on the south side of the square  or mail it with payment to the Times, P.O. Box 188, Gainesville, MO 65655.

Pam Hengen says her son loved to run and was taking college courses while serving with the Army in Iraq, so the 5K event is a good way to honor his memory while also contributing to the scholarship fund that helps Ozark County graduating seniors pay for higher education. 

Those who are unable to join the group in Gainesville are encouraged to purchase a T-shirt and/or participate in the event by running or walking a 5K (3.1 miles) in their home areas to honor the fallen Ozark County hero. 

Donations to the scholarship fund are also welcome and may be made through the matthewjenglandmemorial.weebly.com website or by making checks payable to the Matthew J. England Memorial Scholarship Fund and mailing to the Ozark County Times at the address above.