'Redneck Run' Benefits Area Veteran

A special event set for Saturday, July 12 at Siegel's Cottonwood Farm on Weber Road will benefit an injured Joliet veteran.

Area residents are invited to take on the "Redneck Run," challenging themselves with an out-of-the-ordinary obstacle course, to benefit the family of Air Force Capt. Anthony "Tony" Simone.

Simone suffered a traumatic brain injury, reducing his use of the left side of his body, when his combat search and rescue helicopter was shot down over Afghanistan in 2010. Since then, his recovery journey has taken him to seven hospitals in different states.

Simone and his wife, Andrea Boley Simone, live in Joliet with their two young children. The family is awaiting the completion of a specially built home, adapted for Simone's needs, from Homes for Our Troops.

In an effort to help the local wounded warrior, the Siegel family will host the Red Neck Run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the farm, 17250 Weber Road.

According to Cottonwood Farm, the event is not your typical run: "The day will start with a down-home redneck obstacle course/run testing your physical skills, running through tires, jumping over giant hay bales, navigating a rope maze and other challenging ops hurdles. There will be team and individual competition events. Local first alert staff, fitness centers and hospital staff have been challenged to face each other."

The fun doesn't stop there. In addition to the obstacle course, guests can compete in contests such as "longest beard," "Ma & Pa Cottonwood" (best redneck outfits), hub cab hurl, tug of war and tire flipping, to name a few. 

Food and drinks will be available for purchase at the July 12 event, which will end with an "after party" featuring live music from Summer Son. The band plays country music, along with Bob Marley and Jimmy Buffet hits.

Registration is $50 in advance and $60 at the door.

For more information, contact Kaity Siegel at 815-741-2693 or kaity@siegelsfarm.com or visit the website.