Thousands of participants lined the streets of Tempe on April 16, 2011 for the 7th Annual Pat's Run.

7th Annual Pat's Run Race Start

Amongst the crowd in gold were 26 of 111 Tillman Military Scholars who made the trip to Tempe to participate in this year’s Pat’s Run.

Tillman Military Scholars Bonnie Contreras (with daughter Kenya) and Patrick Nelson hold the Finish Line tape.

Pat’s teammate and former ASU and NFL quarterback, Jake Plummer, was the official race starter and participants were thrilled to see him back in sunny Arizona.

Official Race Starter and Pat's former Sun Devil and Cardinal teammate, Jake Plummer.

The 4.2 mile run/walk ends on the 42-yard line of Arizona State University’s Sun Devil Stadium, symbolic of the #42 jersey Pat wore while he was a Sun Devil football player. The event also featured a Kids Run where more than 2,300 children participated in a .42 mile race.

Pat's Run Kids Run Start

Through a partnership with the Arizona State University Alumni Association and with support from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, 4.2 mile Pat’s Run Shadow Runs were held in 21 cities spanning from San Diego, California to Washington, D.C. Over 1,200 Pat Tillman Foundation supporters joined across the U.S. to shadow the run in Tempe.

San Francisco Shadow Run

In addition, over a thousand servicemembers participated in casual Troop Runs coordinated and organized by U.S. military in Afghanistan, El Salvador, England, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey.

Kandahar Airfield Troop Run

More than $1 million was generated at the 7th Annual Pat’s Run which will directly support the Foundation’s mission to invest in veterans and their families through education and community.

Currently, the Pat Tillman Foundation is reviewing 1,242 applications submitted by deserving servicemembers and dependents during the 2011 online application process. In June, the Pat Tillman Foundation will pledge over a million dollars in scholarship support to the third class of Tillman Military Scholars.

To date, the Pat Tillman Foundation has invested over $3.5 million in educational resources to support individuals committed to a life of service both in and out of uniform.

Mark your calendar for Veterans Day – November 11, 2011 when online registration will open for the 8th Annual Pat’s Run.

To view more of the excitement and impact as told through participant photos and thoughts, visit our Facebook page and find a sampling of coverage below:

• April 16, 2011– Pat’s Run in interviews | 12 News
• April 16, 2011– Pat’s Run in photos | azcentral.com
• April 16, 2011– Pat’s Run in video | azcentral.com
• April 16, 2011– Running Pat’s Run ’cause he can | msnbc.com
• April 17, 2011– Pat’s Run in El Salvador | dvids.com
• April 18, 2011– Pat’s Run Photos | ASU News
• April 19, 2011– Tillman Scholars inspire, are inspired by Pat’s Run | azcentral.com

The 7th annual Pat’s Run will be held Saturday, April 16, 2011 in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil Stadium. Registration will officially open in the fall so please check the Pat’s Run website and follow the Pat Tillman Foundation on Facebook for the latest news.

Photo by Bruce Yeung