WARSAW — Six years, five events, thousands of runners, walkers and volunteers and nearly $150,000 raised for the community. That’s the legacy of the Tracey Yeager Memorial 5K which held its final event on Memorial Day of 2016. 

“We had a great run,” said Steve Yeager. “The community rallied around this event since its first year, when family friend Nate Stone started the race project as a high school student. Six years later, proceeds from the TYM 5K have funded many great community projects designed to provide greater access to outdoor recreation.” While honoring the life of Tracey Yeager, TYM5K also aimed to put a focus on the reason for Memorial Day by highlighting guest speakers in each pre-race program. These speakers included a Medal of Honor winner in 2015 and a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot in 2016.   

Though the race has come to a close, the Kosciusko County Community Foundation will continue administering the Tracey’s Trails Fund, extending the opportunity for donors to honor fallen service members with a gift to benefit the community’s outdoors. In addition, Warsaw’s Memorial Wall, James Foreman Monument and the American Legion parade provide other opportunities, on Memorial Day or any day, to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.

Tracey Yeager graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1990 and served as a Naval Officer flying CH-46 helicopters. She earned the rank of Lieutenant, and resigned in 1999 to pursue her calling as a wife and mother of three young children. She passed away in 2010 from cancer, but lived her life as a model of faith, strength, and courage, inspiring those around her. Because of Tracey’s passion for faith, family, friends, fitness, and fellowship, the Memorial Day 5K became an honor to her legacy.  

The TYM5K Committee extends a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved with this meaningful event. The spirit, heart and resources you contributed were well placed and very much appreciated. Through the years, TYM5K was generously sponsored by many athletic clubs, school and community organizations and local business.  Business and charitable sponsors included: Wildman Business Group, SYM Financial Advisors, PAYPROTEC, Seymour Midwest,  Flexaust, Tecomet, Kosciusko County Community Foundation, K21 Health Foundation, Nest Furniture & Design, Green Earth Multisport, Mason Geiger Photography & Film,  Brian Peterson Group, Silveus Insurance Group, Skyline Builders, Warsaw Women’s Center, Nutrition Services, Inc., DePuy Synthes, Heiman Construction, Dane and Mary Louise Miller Foundation, Rabb Water Systems, Kosciusko Runners Association, Metzger Outdoors, Harmony Marketing Group, Grossnickle Eye Center, Lake City Animal Clinic, Orthodontic Specialty Services, Reinholt’s Town Square Furniture, KCH, Creative Benefits Solutions, Wetzel Insurance Agency, TL Jackson Construction and WRSW.