O’Fallon VFW Post 805 works around COVID-19 to have annual fun run event

Ninety-eight-year-old Bob Schultz of Belleville wouldn’t miss it. He showed up, as did hundreds of runners who participated at their own pace and time.

Whether they wanted to work on that Quarantine 15 or enjoy a sunny summer day, more than 400 runners registered for the seventh annual .1 Fun Run in O’Fallon on Saturday, tackling the 100-meter course downtown and supporting veterans at the same time.

Although the format changed from previous years, O’Fallon VFW Charles A. Fricke Post 805 kept spirits up by having the event during the coronavirus public health crisis.

Postponed from April 4 to Labor Day weekend, founders and co-directors Paul and Sharon Zinck pivoted to a virtual event, an All-Day-Race-Day because of crowd size restrictions and social distancing guidelines. People could complete the course — marked from the VFW at 221 W. First St. — to the red caboose or choose their own location.

The money raised — totaling $15,000 from Saturday’s event — is split between the VFW National Home for Children in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, and the VFW Post 805 Troop Support Fund, Paul Zinck said.

The national home is a non-profit organization that provides a nurturing community for children, youths and families of veterans, active-duty military and members of the VFW and its Auxiliary opportunities for growth and development.

Through donations to the Troop Support Fund, the Post 805 helps veterans and their families in the O’Fallon community when they are in need.

The Zincks wanted to thank volunteers, sponsors and the city for their support.

Learn more at the Post 805 website, www.vfwpost805.org, or call 618-624-6575.

For more information on the National Children’s Home, visit www.vfwnationalhome.org.

This story was originally published September 8, 2020 at 10:37 AM.