4th Annual Rhody's Run for the Troops

Our annual 5k road race has become many things over the last 4 years.  Primarily, it is Pack It Up's main fundraising vehicle.  We raise most of the money that we use throughout the year on this day.

Over the years however, race day has also become a day where we meet in person men and women who have become part of the Pack It Up family. We are lucky enough that these servicemen and women have walked, driven and flown to Rhode Island to attend the race. 

There are many military personnel who come to the race to enjoy the day with their families and military family.  We hope that we will see you all on Sunday, October 12th in Narragansett, RI.  Online signup is open.  For more information and to sign up, click here.

Latest Packages
We recently sent a package to Jonah Carpenter.  Based on the advice of his wife, Kim, we sent Jonah a Play Station Portable with games.  We heard from both Kim and Jonah once the surprise arrived.


Hi, I just wanted to let you know that Jonah got his PSP and game in the mail today and it was a big surprise. He didn't expect to get that in the mail. So Thank you so much for getting this for him.  I just appreciate you guys doing this so much. You have really made Jonah feel appreciated.

Thank You,
Kim Carpenter

Kristin,

WOW!!!  my wife told me it was you who sent me a PSP thank you so much, I was so worried that something got sent to me by accident when I saw it come in a amazon box, I didn't order anything so I was afraid to open it but the wife said to open it. thank you so much for the system and games, now I have something besides movies to kill my off time. I really don't know what else to say but thank you.

Jonah carpenter
bravo company


A wonderful event...
4,000-mile Run for the Fallen reaches its Arlington goal  (click to watch video)
See a photo gallery from the final day of the Run for the Fallen here.

A ten-week, 4000-run from California to the nation's capital in honor of a fallen friend came to a successful conclusion Sunday morning when New York native Jon Bellona led a pack of runners to a finish line at the gates of Arlington National Cemetery. 

A ten-week, 4000-run from California to the nation's capital in honor of a fallen friend came to a successful conclusion Sunday morning when New York native Jon Bellona led a pack of runners to a finish line at the gates of Arlington National Cemetery.

Bellona organized the event to honor his Hamilton College roommate, Army 1st Lt. Michael Cleary, who was killed in Iraq in 2005.

"Run for the Fallen is a living record," an exhausted, emotional Bellona told the crowd at the finish. "It is not just dedicated to the more than 4,000 men and women who gave their lives, but to the families, loved ones and active duty currently in harm's way."

"Today we've come over 10 million steps to be here at the doorstep of the most sacred place in America, Arlington National Cemetery."

Bellona said that the key moment in the run for him came in Texas, where he saw a sign dedicated to a local servicemember that said "May we remember his life, not his death."

"The quote by someone I never met made me think about Mike Cleary and all the moments we shared together. It made me proud to have known him and made me proud to be an American."

"We have to ask ourselves," he added, "'how will we continue to remember the fallen? How will we continue to keep their spirits alive?'"

The runners taking part in the final day's event included relatives and friends of those who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. After the run, the group continued on to Arlington's Section 60, where many of the recent casualties are buried.