During the Labor Day weekend 10 years ago, two Lee’s Summit residents chose to spend the holiday with family.

Randy Drake, who was 37, went to his parents’ house on the Lake of the Ozarks and participated, along with many of his 12 siblings, in their so-called Drake Ski Show – an annual effort to see how many family members could ski behind a single boat. (The record is 13).

Julie Geis, 44, went back home to Beaver Crossing, Neb., and helped put in a flower garden outside the sunroom being built for her father, who had Alzheimer’s disease.

Then, business called both Drake and Geis to New York City, and on Sept. 11, 2001, both were mortally wounded in the terrorist attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center.

The Patriots Run is an annual event held to commemorate the tragic events of September 11th. With this event we remember, not only those victims who were lost, but also those soldiers, police, firefighters and others who served this country both on that day and every day thereafter. This is a unique event in that it is a 9 hour and 11 minute run/walk around a one-mile loop course.  They are expecting around 450 runners from across America and Canada.  From a base in Afghanistan 4000 soldiers are planned to run 9.11 KM coinciding with the end of the Patriots Run.

Press Release

The Kansas City Royals asked Buddie Butterfield to sit in the honorary "Buck O'Neill Legacy Seat" on Friday evening, July 22. Mr. Butterfield, the Founder of Buddie's Buddies Adaptive Golf, was honored for his hard work and dedication, serving area children, adults and veterans with physical and/or mental challenges. Buddie's Buddies is a 501 C-3 non-profit organization, whose purpose is to enhance the personal and physical growth of its participants with disabilities.

In 2007, Buddie's Veterans Adaptive Golf Clinics was developed with the full support of the Kansas City VA Hospital. Golf can be learned and enjoyed by anyone, regardless of age or disability, gender or economic status, therefore, we need your help to expose and involve more disabled veterans and active-duty personnel injured in the line of duty, to our adaptive golf programs.