More than 300 runners participated in the inaugural Harrisburg Heroes Run, all in support of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s “Wills for Heroes” program.

HARRISBURG, Pa. — More than 300 runners gathered at City Island to participate in the inaugural Harrisburg Heroes Run, a 5K race paired with a one-mile fun run — all in support of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s “Wills for Heroes” program, which offers free basic estate-planning documents to first responders, military veterans and their families.  

Organizer Kerry Pierce, a law student at Widener Law Commonwealth School of Law and former stay-at-home mom for 20 years, said she originally set a modest goal of 50 participants. 

“We had over 300, so I’m absolutely floored and thrilled and really touched by people in our community,” she said.

Pierce’s involvement is personal. Her husband served in the Air Force, and both her father and her grandfathers were veterans. 

“This is our way as law students and as part of the community to give back to our local heroes,” she explained.

The run helped raise approximately $8,000 for Wills for Heroes, funds that will support local events where attorneys and law-student volunteers help veterans and first responders draft essential documents — a mission born in the aftermath of 9/11, when many fallen first responders had not prepared wills.  

Among those running was Gigi Rux, a psychology student at Penn State and a contestant for Miss Pennsylvania next year. Her platform is about raising awareness about mental health challenges faced by law enforcement officers, inspired by her father, who retired as a detective sergeant and now lives with PTSD. 

“Seeing him struggle really made me want to raise awareness for other people that are struggling with this,” she said.

First-place winner Wade Glessner also had family ties to the cause. 

“It’s good to support the heroes, first responders and veterans. I have a brother-in-law who was a retired State Trooper, [and] my brother was in the Air Force,” he said.

Pierce says she hopes to make the Harrisburg Heroes Run an annual tradition — one that brings the community together, raises funds to support those who serve and ensures that local veterans and first responders receive the respect and help they deserve. 

“I would love for it to be annual, so I’m going to work very hard to try to make it an annual thing,” Pierce said.

For more information about the Wills for Heroes program or to learn about upcoming events, visit the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s website.