MARBLEHEAD – When the starting horn sounds at the Marblehead VFW on Sept. 13, runners, walkers, and ruckers will be taking steps not only for their own fitness, but also for veterans in need of service dogs.
The Spirit of ’76 Patriot 5K Run/Walk/Ruck will begin at 9 a.m. at 321 West Shore Drive, raising money for Company 2 Heroes, a Marblehead-based nonprofit that trains service dogs for veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Now in its second year, the fundraiser grew out of a grassroots effort to support the nonprofit, said Claudette M. Mason, who is leading the organizing team. Last year’s inaugural event drew about 40 participants, and Mason said organizers are aiming to at least double that number this September.
“Road races build momentum,” Mason said. “The first year is about getting the word out. If we can double the number of people this year, I’ll be happy. That means more support for the cause and more awareness of what veterans are going through.”
Company 2 Heroes was founded in 2017 by Army veteran Kate Van Auken, who served 28 years in the military. After retiring, she adopted her former IED detection dog, Sergeant Rey, and sought help to train her as a service animal.
“I was told no at every turn — that it couldn’t be done, that it was too much liability with a retired working dog,” Van Auken said. “But Rey was my battle buddy. We both survived IED attacks and the night terrors that followed. She saved my life, and I hope I saved hers.”
Frustrated by the lack of options, Van Auken partnered with a trainer friend to work with Rey. Soon, other veterans began asking where she had received her training. The response led her to launch Company 2 Heroes.
Today, the nonprofit works with veterans from all branches and conflicts, helping them train either their own dogs or rescues. The program reduces the long waits many veterans face with larger national organizations, which can stretch two to three years.
“Filling out an application for a service dog is often the first step a veteran takes for themselves,” Van Auken said. “When they’re told it could take years, many spiral back into depression. We’re here to fill that critical gap.”
The program is built not just on training, but on connection. Van Auken said veterans often find themselves isolated, relying on vices to cope. Working with a dog — feeding it, walking it, training it — helps them rebuild a sense of purpose.
“All of a sudden, you’re off the couch,” she said. “You’re paying attention to your dog, which makes you pay attention to yourself. That bond saves lives.”
The 5K will also feature a puppy therapy tent hosted by Bear Pond Retrievers of Maine, which donates one dog annually to the program. Visitors will be able to interact with nine new puppies, one of which will eventually become a service dog for a veteran.
“All of the proceeds go toward the training,” Mason said. “When you see a veteran with their service dog, you realize that’s what this person needed. Suicide rates are incredibly high among veterans, and if we can save even one life through this program, it’s worth everything.”
The event is designed to be a family-friendly tradition. Mason, whose family has been involved in veteran support for generations, said she hopes young participants will be inspired to carry that legacy forward.
“If a kid runs with their dad and sees they’re doing something for veterans, that lesson carries on,” she said. “We want this to be a generational effort.”
Participants can register through race websites such as Find a Race and Let’s Do This, or by visiting the event’s Facebook page. Those unable to attend can still contribute through donation links online. After the race, the Marblehead VFW will host a post-race gathering with food, and later that evening a benefit concert will be held featuring The Guy Ford Band.
“This is about more than a race,” Van Auken said. “Every step taken that day helps a veteran find their way back.”
