By Kathy Carpenter 

The November Ipmact a Hero Race in Sugar Land, Texas

This past weekend I was privileged to run in the Impact a Hero race which took place right here in Sugar Land, Texas. The Impact a Hero organization has been active for ten years, and in 2005, Sugar Land was one of the first cities to host a partnership event. Due to the incredible growth and participation, the event moved to downtown Houston and is now held at NRG Park each May.

It was great to have the event return for a November race in Sugar Land. As I ran (and walked!) next to some neighbors I have known for over a decade, I was moved by the pride, gratitude and strength of our community and by the tremendous sacrifices of the veterans who participated in this race. Brent and I have been Sugar Land residents since 1990 and it’s truly incredible to see how far the area has progressed in the past twenty plus years. Our kids rode bikes on the Grand Parkway before it was finished, and I still remember when Town Center was an open lot that hosted the Sugar Festival, before Walmart and Whataburger and overpasses, when the only retail on Highway 90 was a cleaners in a little yellow house. Through all these changes, the outpouring of caring and the generosity of the residents of Sugar Land has been a constant.

It is not surprising to me that the community of Sugar Land was one of the first to partner with Impact a Hero. It was that sense of welcoming and investment in community that drew Brent and I and eventually our law firm to Sugar Land. I am so proud to be a part of this great community and it was an honor to participate in the Impact a Hero event as we showed our gratitude to those who protect our country.

As we give thanks for our many blessings this week, we are also mindful of the tremendous sacrifices our military men and women make for us every day.

To learn more about the Impact a Hero organization please visit their website:  http://impactplayer.org/