For Ray Ainsworth, used car sales manager at Lakewood Ford, supporting the wear blue: run to remember group came naturally.

"I lost a good friend in Iraq, so this group is close to my heart," said Ainsworth, who retired from the Army after serving 20 years. He became aware of the group when one of its members, Crystal Paresa, kept trying to win some Seattle Mariners tickets via a Facebook giveaway the dealership was holding. Though she didn't win, she did attract management's attention, and when they called to offer a consolation prize, she told them about a local group of runners making a name for themselves by honoring the lives of fallen warriors.

Wear blue: run to remember began as a small, nonprofit group intended to provide an outlet for grief, heartbreak and fear to those who had lost someone downrange, whether a spouse, relative or fellow Servicemember. In the past two years, the group has grown into a recognizable, positive force locally and has begun to enter into the national spotlight.

"As I learned more about the group, I started to figure out how we could help. So I set up a meeting between their leaders and Henry (Krebs)," Ainsworth said.

Krebs, who is the general manager of the dealership and a former Marine, decided almost immediately to back the group and have his business become a chapter-level sponsor - meaning that it contributes enough money to help the organization start new chapters across the country.

Lakewood Ford dealership will begin selling wear blue: run to remember gear, from shirts to hats, out of the parts department, with 100 percent of the proceeds going back to the running group.

"We say we are the strongest veterans serving veterans' car business in the area," said Ainsworth. "This is just part of what we believe in."

Lakewood Ford is located at 11503 Pacific Hwy S. and is open Mondays to Fridays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.  

To join wear blue: run to remember, just come out to PowderWorks Park in DuPont on Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. To donate or to learn more, visit www.wearblueruntoremember.org.