Each year, UMGC brings together students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends from around the world for the Virtual FUNd Run: a global, weeklong event that celebrates community, wellness, and purpose. Participants walk or run from wherever they are, logging miles to raise funds for the Veterans Assistance Fund (VAF), which helps UMGC student veterans cover educational costs when federal aid or VA benefits run out.
The FUNd Run began in 2017 as a local community event alongside the MilVet Appreciation Fair and has since evolved into a global tradition of support and connection. When the pandemic halted in-person gatherings, UMGC transformed the run into a virtual experience.
To keep the momentum going, a midweek Pep Rally brings the community together for encouragement and celebration, reminding participants why their efforts matter. “The Pep Rally helps us keep the motivation strong and our students engaged, while the Veterans Assistance Fund provides the support veteran students need to overcome the financial hurdles that stand between them and their degrees—helping them reach the finish line,” said Kristin Byerly, Director of Veterans Initiatives & Outreach.
When UMGC student Sharon Grassi arrived at this year’s Pep Rally, she didn’t just bring her school spirit—she brought an experience. Through her nonprofit, Co-Op Survival, Grassi led FUNd Run participants in creating paracord dog leashes for veterans, transforming the event into a space for reflection, conversation, and connection.
“We ask people to come in and make a dog leash to connect veterans with other people within their community and help them feel like they fit in,” Grassi explained. “When people use both hands, bilateral brain stimulation increases oxygen to the brain and helps reduce the fight-or-flight stress response. It helps people calm their mind and just connect.”
The leash carries a story. Grassi’s son, a veteran, crafted his first paracord leash while recovering at Walter Reed for his service dog. What began as a quiet, therapeutic bonding moment between a veteran and caregiver evolved into a powerful tool for healing and community building.
Now, through Co-Op Survival, Grassi brings that same experience to others—students, caregivers, staff, alumni, and veterans—inviting them to sit side-by-side, weaving strands of cord and conversation. Each leash represents more than a finished craft; it’s a tangible reminder that support isn’t just an abstract idea. It’s something built—together, one connection at a time.
More than just a fitness challenge, the FUNd Run celebrates the determination of UMGC’s military and veteran learners, as well as the university’s enduring commitment to helping them reach the finish line in their academic journeys. Through the VAF, eligible candidates can request financial support to aid them in degree completion, so that our student veterans' education is not cut short due to financial hardship.
Together, the FUNd Run community continues to inspire hope, empower dreams, and transform lives—one step, one student, and one mile at a time.