A different Russell is on the run for the Seahawks.
An Army veteran of 16 years who has done his share of deployment duty, Russell Knorr has come home to fight for a different cause.
The Spanaway man is a passionate twelthie who wants to save lives. He and his pink-wrapped Jeep can be found at community events and car shows throughout the area, raising awareness and funds to beat breast cancer. His Jeep’s hood is sprinkled with 13 autographs of past and present Seahawks who paused to sign his 2014 Wrangler at tailgate stops.
Last Saturday, Knorr, dressed in a No. 3 Russell Wilson jersey, and his rig were at the Kent Downtown Partnership’s fifth annual Hawktoberfest Car Show along Railroad Avenue in downtown Kent.
“I go everywhere,” said Russell, his hair pink-dyed and spiked into a Mohawk and shaven into a pink ribbon on the side of his head. “Last year we raised $2,600 … but this year I gotta do more. I want to smash it. Together, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish.”
Knorr’s friend, a soldier he had served with in the Army, lost his wife to breast cancer. That galvanized Knorr.
“Then, I couldn’t do anything. I was deployed, thousands of miles away. I had no money and couldn’t help out,” Knorr said. “But I told myself, ‘if there’s ever an opportunity, I will do what I can.’”
So Knorr took on the challenge, joining the Real Men Wear Pink campaign to support the American Cancer Society. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
His Jeep shone brightly in the middle of a lineup of Hawk-themed vehicles, whose owners brought to Burlington Green and Yangzhou Park to compete for attention and trophies at the family-friendly event.
The community celebration included performances by the Washington Diamonds Drill Team, and CJ Dudley. There were vendors, food and costume contests.
Proceeds raised from the event will support KDP in its work to sustain small businesses and revitalize historic downtown.
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