Honoring Capt. Keel: 9th Annual APK 5K Road Race & 5K Ruck March

GUILFORD & MADISON, CT —The 9th Annual APK 5K Road Race & 5K Ruck March is set for Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Guilford Fairgrounds.

Following the opening ceremonies, the 5K Road Race and the 5K Ruck March will begin at 10am and run through the historic and beautiful streets of Guilford.

This race is held in memory of Capt. Andrew Pedersen Keel. Because of their loss, Andrew’s
parents’ Helen Pedersen Keiser and Bob Keiser, of Madison, established APK Charities. They
did this to honor and remember Keel and his sacrifice and to bring awareness to the needs of
our veterans and their families.

All proceeds will benefit the APK Direct Assistance Fund, Spikes K9 and the APK Endowment Funds with the Madison and Guilford Foundations.

The APK Direct Assistance Program provides assistance to service members and their
families who are in need of emergency or hardship support. In conjunction with Columbus
House of New Haven and other agencies, the program identifies an individual veteran in need of
emergency assistance.

Assistance is provided by APK Charities on a one-time basis to eligible Veterans and can be
used to pay expenses on the veteran’s behalf in critical areas of need.

Both Columbus House and APK Charities believe it is partnerships like these that will ensure progress on the path to ending Veteran hardship and homelessness. With philanthropic investments and the expertise of non-profit providers, we can offer solutions for Veterans and their families as they make their way to housing and stability.

The APK Charities Endowment Fund with the Madison and Guilford Foundations to further
Andrew’s legacy of service. Each endowment fund supports initiatives, projects, and nonprofit
organizations that serve to improve the quality of life in Madison and Guilford, among other
places, with a particular focus on Veterans and Active Duty Military and/or their families and
related Military charities and projects.

5K Road Race & 5K Ruck March Details

For participants of the 5K Ruck March, please bring a backpack with non-perishable food items
with the following weight recommendations: 150 lbs. under, 10 lbs., over 150 lbs., 20 lbs. This
food will be donated to the Guilford and Madison Food Banks, and the St. George Food Pantry.
Registration is on-line only and available up until race start on Nov. 5. For more race information, please go to the APK Charities website @ www.apkcharities.org

About Captain Andrew M. Pedersen-Keel U.S. Army Special Forces

CPT Andrew M. Pedersen-Keel, fondly called “PK”, was born June 8, 1984 in South Miami, FL.
He grew up in Wallingford; CT. Andrew attended Parker Farms Elementary School, and Moran
Middle School. He graduated from Avon Old Farms School, Avon, CT in 2002. Throughout high
school Andrew embraced all that AOF had to offer. He was a Dean’s List student, tri-sport
varsity athlete, dormitory monitor, and editor of the school newspaper. Remembered for his
enthusiasm, energy, loyalty, and high moral standards he earned the trust, respect, and admiration of those around him.

Andrew was admitted to the United States Military Academy at West Point. N.Y. and graduated
in 2006. He was first deployed to Afghanistan in 2008, as an Army Ranger, serving as company
executive officer and platoon leader. Following his first deployment he began Special Forces
training, which he completed June 28, 2012. Andrew was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd
Special Forces Group (Airborne). Capt. Pedersen-Keel was serving as Detachment Commander
of Green Beret Special Forces team in eastern Afghanistan. On March 11, 2013, several NATO
and Afghan service members, along with Capt. Andrew, another American soldier, SSG Rex L.
Schad from Oklahoma, and their military working dog “Bak” were fatally wounded when an
assailant masquerading as an Afghan National soldier opened fire on the group.