BETHESDA, Md., May 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 1,000 Washington, D.C., area Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] employees and family members participated Saturday, May 4, in Rockville, Md., in the Corporation's first-ever 5K run/walk to get fit while supporting a great cause, the Wounded Warrior Project.

The Lockheed Martin Centennial Challenge run/walk allowed employees to donate nearly $16,000 to the Wounded Warrior Project to support the needs of injured, ill and wounded veterans and service members.

"Lockheed Martin is committed to helping our employees get healthy and stay healthy," said Chief Executive Officer and President Marillyn A. Hewson. "I was excited to see so many of our employees and their families participate. And what made the event even more meaningful is that all the proceeds benefit such an important cause."

Guest speaker 1^st Lt. Donna Bachler, of the Wounded Warrior Project, inspired participants by sharing her personal story of coping with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Bachler spent more than 12 years in the Army, was deployed to Kuwait as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and aided in the recovery effort after 9/11 at Ground Zero. She accepted the donation on behalf of the Wounded Warrior Project.

The Centennial Challenge was just one of many ways in which Lockheed Martin is motivating employees to get healthy, support a great cause and have fun. Experts believe that 75 percent of health care costs are lifestyle related and preventable.

The run/walk was part of the Accelerating a Better You campaign, which represents a cultural shift in how Lockheed Martin looks at employee health and wellness. The focus is on employees, their overall well-being and helping them achieve a series of lifestyle changes that will help them get healthy and stay healthy.

The campaign builds on Lockheed Martin's comprehensive health and wellness programs, which include free onsite health care at 27 facilities in the United States, as well as a variety of other programs and financial incentives.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 118,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products, and services. The Corporation's net sales for 2012 were $47.2 billion.

For additional information, visit our website: www.lockheedmartin.com

SOURCE Lockheed Martin