The SSG Michael Ollis Foundation will hold the 5th Annual SSG Michael Ollis 5K Run & 2-Mile Walk in New Dorp, Staten Island on Sunday, June 13, 9am. Since the inaugural event, the Ollis run has grown into one of Staten Island's largest running events.  The course is now USTA Certified. 

Staff Sergeant Ollis served one tour of duty in Iraq and two tours in Afghanistan.  He left for his third deployment in January 2013 and was due home in October of that same year.  That, however, was not meant to be.  On August 28, the forward operating base in Ghazni, Afghanistan, where Mr. Ollis was stationed, was attacked by insurgent forces.  In the course of meeting the enemy, Staff Sergeant Ollis stepped in front of a wounded Polish officer in order to protect him from an insurgent wearing a suicide vest. Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis was killed.  He was 24 years old.

Mr. Ollis’ heroism has been honored by the Polish government with their highest military award, the Polish Gold Star Medal of Honor, as well as the Afghani Star.  Among the many awards received posthumously by the United States, Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis has been honored with the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Silver Star and the Audie Murphy Medallion.

The Ollis race is organized by the SSG Michael Ollis Freedom Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, and is scored by Richard Re of ScoreYourRace.com.  After payment of race expenses, all proceeds are used by the Ollis Freedom Foundation to provide assistance and support to combat veterans re-entering civilian life.

Register here.