South Dakota Woman Completes 450-mile Run Honoring Gold Star Families, Veterans
A South Dakota woman's run across the state to raise money for Veterans came full circle this week.
Mai Richards was back in Sioux Falls, where her 450-mile Miles of Honor journey began back in May, to reveal just how successful the event was.
During an event at the South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance, Richards presented a series of donations to organizations including the South Dakota Military Alliance, Sioux Falls American Legion Post 15, and South Dakota American Legion.
In all, the event raised $12,916. The money will go to veterans organizations, memorials, national cemeteries, and community partners throughout South Dakota.
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Here is the original May 1st story at the beginning of the run:
A journey of 450 miles began with a single step in Sioux Falls Friday (May 1st) morning.
In front of a crowd of well-wishers at the South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance, Mai Richards of Spearfish set out on her 25-day journey running across the state.
For the past several years, she has set aside Memorial Day as a time to literally pound the pavement while carrying an American flag, to honor our fallen heroes with a 22-mile run from Spearfish to Sturgis.
But in 2026, she decided to do something much bigger - running from Sioux Falls to Sturgis. The expanded Miles of Honor ends at the Harley-Davidson Rally Point Plaza.
The two things that haven't changed are her motivation for the run - a tribute to heroes submitted by the veterans community and Gold Star families, who share the names, photos, and stories of their loved ones - and the American flag, which she will carry every step of the way.
Richards grew up in Spearfish after being adopted from Vietnam at the age of four with her twin sister. She says growing up in a diverse and international family shaped how she sees the world, giving her a deep understanding of the life she'd been given here in the United States.
She considers the annual run to be the best way to honor those who gave their lives in service to our country by leading and living a life worthy of that sacrifice.
The 2026 run might not just be remembered for its duration; it has a chance to grab a place in history.
Richards has submitted an official application to Guinness World Records to commerate the first person to carry the American flag across the state of South Dakota on foot.
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Gallery Credit: Isabel Sepulveda
