VIDEO: Bubba's Belly Run Draws a Crowd

Racers of all ages came out to support families of fallen veterans in Sunday's hosted by . 

As morning broke the day of the Belly Run, Nicki Bunting saw three months of preparation come to fruition. T-shirts were stacked, backpacks were filled and moon bounces inflated. Though the day started out quietly enough, by 8:30 a.m. 425 event-goers began pouring onto the Bullis School campus to register and warm up for the race.

"It's rained every year, but that doesn't stop people from coming," said Jennifer Hoffman, a third-year volunteer with the event.

Family and friends of , while others came to race for a cause. 

Clayton Ledford and Daryl Mackin were there to represent one of the event beneficiaries, A Soldier's Child Birthday Foundation. The organization, which boasts about 100 volunteer organizers, provides support to families of fallen soldiers by celebrating the birthdays of their children.

From the time a parent registers the child to the time of his or her 19th birthday, A Soldier’s Child sends a package containing $125 worth of gifts for the child to open on their special day.

Two days before Connor Bunting's birthday last year, Nicki signed up her son to receive a birthday package. The organization requires a two-week notification to ship packages on time, but after receiving Nicki's registration, Mackin and his wife spent that evening shopping to have a package ready to ship overnight. Connor received the package the day of his birthday and Nicki called Mackin in tears to thank him, Mackin said. She then invited A Soldier’s Child to participate in the Belly Run.

"Bubba's Belly Run supports us in such a way that with out their support, it would be difficult to do what we do," Mackin said. "We are the fruit of Bubba's Belly Run."

Last year the Belly Run provided nearly half of the organization's budget, donating over $13,000, according to Mackin. This year, the organization and the number of families it supports have grown to require a budget of $100,000.

runners Ariana Etessami, 16, and Christine Lorica, 16, only recently heard Bubba Bunting's story and decided to donate their talents to Bubba's Belly Run. The two friends gathered their cleats and jerseys Sunday morning and got ready to race.

"We both love to run," Lorica said. "So we decided to come out and support the cause."

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