Brake running in fundraising 5K race

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WEST POINT, N.Y. — It started out with a couple of online friends just having fun, joking and poking fun at one another.  At some point, Nancy Fabi of Pittsburgh, Pa., and mother of a West Point cadet decided enough with the jokes, she was going to make it happen.

After her friends signed off and toddled off to bed, Fabi began her work in earnest.  By the following morning, a rough plan was in place and she announced to a group of over 1,000 mothers of cadets at West Point that she and her two friends were going to plan and participate in a 5K race to be held in August.

At least one of those friends immediately said “no way.” That is until she read the entire plan. The 5K will be held in honor of Second Lieutenant Nicholas Vogt, a young man from Crestline and an officer of the United States Army who was recently seriously injured in Afghanistan. Proceeds will be donated to the Fisher House Foundation to help with its mission of providing housing at no cost to families as they support family members during treatment and recovery at military hospitals.

Over 200 participants have registered and raised just over $20,000. Participants from across the nation will gather in New York late this month for the run.  There are also satellite runs, with one as far away as Germany.  A local woman, Kathy Brake, plans to represent Van Wert County in her first 5K in an effort to help the cause and is seeking donations from the area.  Those who would like to donate can do so online at https://fundraising.active.com/fundraiser/kathybrake or by contacting Brake at 419.965.2912.