The 11^th annual Barney’s Run for Warriors on Saturday, Nov. 18 is shaping up to be a record-setting event.

A signature ministry of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the event, which raises money to provide service dogs to wounded U.S. military veterans, is USA Track & Field certified and, for the first time, will offer cash prizes to the best overall male and female runners in the half-marathon, 10K, and 5K races. There also is a one-mile walk/run.

Golden Triangle Resource, Conservation, and Development Council is again the lead sponsor for Barney’s Run, which to date has matched 18 trained service dogs with wounded warriors. The dogs are trained by K9’s for Warriors, a northeast Florida organization that matches rescue dogs with wounded veterans.

While the dogs initially cost about $11,000, it now costs $25,000 to provide extensive training for the dog and for its carefully matched veteran. Officials with St. Paul’s say the goal this year is to match two dogs and warriors, with the hope that the recipients will be from the Southwest Georgia area.

By late October, nearly $54,000 in sponsorship money had been secured, a good indicator that this year’s event is on pace to be a record-setting fundraiser. Barney’s Run Treasurer Pam Reynolds said individuals also can help make it a resounding success, one that will make a massive, positive difference in the quality of life of a military veteran who has suffered trauma in the service of our country.

“While large corporate gifts in recent years have determined our financial success, we do hope individual households will consider a gift, whether it be $10, $20, or $100,” Reynolds said. “There are more wounded veterans seeking support dogs than there are service dogs.”

Checks may be mailed to P.O. Box 70111, Albany, GA, 31708-0111, between now and the Nov. 18 race day.

There also is still time to register to participate in one of the three races, which will start at the Albany Board of Realtors, 2325 Lake Park Dr., one block west of Dawson Road, in West Albany. Online runner registration is pointing to a record-breaking event as well.

To register online, google “RunSignUp Barney’s Run” to find the link or type in the URL https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/Albany/BARNEYSRUNFORWARRIORS2023. Online registration closes on Thursday, Nov. 16. Participants also may sign up in person from 7:45-8:45 a.m. on race day at the starting site. The half-marathon starts at 8:30 a.m., followed by the 10K and 5K at 9 a.m., and the one-mile walk-run at 9:05 a.m.

Participants in the walk/run, and the 5K and 10K are encouraged to bring their own dogs. All races are on nearly flat, paved, and well-marked courses through Albany neighborhoods. There will be plenty of water stations, pit stops, T-shirts, and swag bags at the event.

Lead sponsor Golden Triangle is a non-profit organization that serves 15 Southwest Georgia counties. The organization’s broad-based mission includes natural resource conservation, community development, environmental protection, and cultural and historical preservation.

Business/corporate sponsors for the 2023 Barney’s Run include AB&T, Albany Internal Medicine, American Legion Post 30, Bottom’s Up, Bush Animal Clinic, Carlton Foundation, The Clay Spot, Dennis Hester CPA, Dental Partners, Gilliespie Printers, Green Envy, Home Run Foods, Mellow Mushroom, Newk’s Eatery, Oxford Construction, Perkins & Simmons, Phoebe Putney Health System, Pretoria Fields Brewery, Upland Wealth Advisors, Veranda Medical Group, Watson Spence, and Westover Animal Hospital.

The race co-chairs are Lois Hunkele, DVM, and Anna Hendley. The committee members are Galen and Don Mirate, Ned Newcomb, Pam Reynolds, Debbie Richardson, and Mari and Ted Wright. There are 48 volunteers from St. Paul’s who are helping with the race.

Barney’s Run 2023 will award medals to the 10K and 5K runners. Finishing medals will be awarded for the half-marathon and one-mile races.

Medals also will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers in the 16 age groups in the 10K and 5K races. Age groups are 6-9, 10-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, and 80-plus.

The Best American Spirit School Award will be given to the school with the most participants in the half-marathon, 10K, 5K, and one-mile races.