08/18/2026
In Memory of Our Fallen Heroes 5K Run & Walk on Friday, September 11, 2026, at Lloyd Erickson Park in Elwood.
This year is especially meaningful as we mark the 25th Anniversary of September 11, 2001. But for those of us in the public-safety family, September 11 has never been just a date. It represents sacrifice, brotherhood, service, and the promise that we will never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
It also brings back memories of those we have lost within our own public-safety family.
For me, that includes Bradley.
Many of you knew Bradley, worked alongside him, responded to calls with him, or had the opportunity to know him through his years in law enforcement and public safety.
Bradley served as a Frankfort Police Officer and D.A.R.E. Officer, a New Lenox Police Officer, and with the Will County Forest Preserve Police and was a IPLEA member . Throughout his career, he dedicated himself to helping others and making a difference in the communities he served.
The Bradley Veerman Charity Fund was created to carry forward the values Bradley lived with every day. Through the charity, we provide scholarships to students pursuing careers in law enforcement, fire service, EMS, dispatch, and other public-safety professions, while also supporting organizations that help first responders and their families.
This year's 5K gives us an opportunity to come together as a public-safety family—to remember the people we have lost, honor those who continue to serve, and support the next generation of police officers, firefighters, paramedics, dispatchers, and other first responders.
I would love to see your department there.
I'm asking you to please encourage your officers, dispatchers, retirees, families, and friends to participate.
Run. Walk. Bring your family. Put together a department team. Wear your department shirt. Come out and spend the evening with people who understand what this profession means.
You don't have to be a runner to be part of it.
What matters is that we show up together.
And if your department can support the event through sponsorship, raffle donation, gift card, merchandise, or another contribution, we would certainly appreciate it. But more than anything, we would love to have you and your people there.
September 11, 2026
In Memory of Our Fallen Heroes 5K Run & Walk
Lloyd Erickson Park
801 N. Chicago Street
Elwood, Illinois 60421
Ceremony – 5:00 PM
5K Start – 6:00 PM
Please feel free to share this with your department and encourage your members to register. Your support and your voice can make a tremendous difference in helping us get the word out.
Thank you for your friendship, your leadership, and for everything you continue to do for the people you serve.
I hope to see you, and hopefully a lot of your officers, on September 11.
Never Forget.
Respectfully,
April Veerman
President
Bradley Veerman Charity Fund
501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
EIN 33-2960312
815-405-3607
[email protected]
BradleyVeermanCharityFund.org
For race registration, sponsorship opportunities, volunteer information, donations, or to purchase an official event T-shirt:
Race Registration: runsignup.com/Race/IL/Elwood/ElwoodCommunityDaysK (file:///var/mobile/tmp/com.apple.email.maild/EMContentRepresentation/com.apple.mobilemail/AC7871EA-C332-4AEA-A518-4876F0AEAC1B/runsignup.com/Race/IL/Elwood/ElwoodCommunityDaysK)
Official Event T-Shirt Store: runsignup.com/Race/Store/IL/Elwood/ElwoodCommunityDaysK (file:///var/mobile/tmp/com.apple.email.maild/EMContentRepresentation/com.apple.mobilemail/AC7871EA-C332-4AEA-A518-4876F0AEAC1B/runsignup.com/Race/Store/IL/Elwood/ElwoodCommunityDaysK)
Bradley Veerman Charity Fund:BradleyVeermanCharityFund.org (file:///var/mobile/tmp/com.apple.email.maild/EMContentRepresentation/com.apple.mobilemail/AC7871EA-C332-4AEA-A518-4876F0AEAC1B/BradleyVeermanCharityFund.org)
