Home Base

Sights and sounds from record-breaking 2023 Run to Home Base

BOSTON, MA – On Saturday, July 22, 2023, Home Base hosted its 14th Annual Run to Home Base presented by Raytheon Technologies at historic Fenway Park. It was the most successful Run to Home Base yet, as 2,609 in-person and virtual runners and walkers – including 1,113 members of our Military and Military Families – helped raise critical awareness and OVER $3 MILLION to heal the invisible wounds of war for Veterans, Service Members, Military Families and Families of the Fallen!

The 2023 Run to Home Base kicked off with a moving Opening Ceremony honoring our Special Operations Forces (SOF) community. Emceed by NESN Host of Red Sox Studio Coverage Tom Caron, the ceremony featured Home Base Executive Director Retired Brigadier General Jack Hammond, Red Sox and Red Sox Foundation Chairman Tom Werner, Massachusetts General Hospital Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President O’Neil Britton, Raytheon Technologies President of Strategic Missile Defense Jennifer Hubbard, and Former 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Commander and Home Base Intensive Clinical Program Graduate Colonel Kevin Trujillo.

Special on-stage guests included Retired Navy SEAL Kirk Herrick, World War II Veteran and Navajo Code Talker Peter MacDonald, U.S. Coast Guard First District Commander Rear Admiral John Mauger, Red Sox Executive Vice President of Social Impact and Red Sox Foundation Executive Director Bekah Salwasser, Red Sox Hall of Famer and Red Sox Foundation Honorary Chairman Tim Wakefield, and U.S. Public Health Service Assistant Surgeon General and Phoenix Area Indian Health Service Deputy Area Director Rear Admiral Michael Weahkee.

The speaking program was wrapped up by WCVB NewsCenter 5 Traffic Anchor and Transportation Specialist Katie Thompson, who also interviewed participants as they ended the race with the unforgettable experience of crossing “home base” of America’s Most Beloved Ballpark, which was displayed live on the jumbotron.

2023 Run to Home Base participants can download pictures of themselves at the event by clicking here and searching using a selfie, or their name or bib number.

Following the race, SOF Veterans of all eras, Active-Duty Service Members and members of their Families were honored on the field in a Pregame Ceremony prior to the Red Sox versus Mets game that evening.

Additionally, during the seventh inning stretch, ABC News Correspondent and Good Morning America‘s Stephanie Ramos performed “God Bless America” in front of the crowd of 36,505 that watched the home team win an 8-6 thriller.

Home Base extends its sincerest appreciation to all involved in this inspiring event, including our generous participants, donors, partners, sponsors, local media, photographers, and volunteers. We look forward to seeing everyone again at our 15th Annual Run to Home Base! Stay tuned to @homebaseprogram on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter for an announcement of the 2024 date!

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Home Base is a national nonprofit dedicated to healing the invisible wounds of war for Veterans of all eras, Service Members, Military Families and Families of the Fallen through world-class, direct clinical care, wellness, education and research – all at no cost to them – regardless of era of service, discharge status or geographical location. The program was founded by Massachusetts General Hospital and the Boston Red Sox. Learn more at www.homebase.org.