On April 10th-11th I will be running a 100 mile ultra marathon just outside Zion National Park in Utah. Please join me in raising funds for this worthy cause.
A year ago, while visting DC to run the Marine Corp Memorial Marathon, I took the time to visit many of the memorials that honor our fallen soldiers of past wars. While doing this I had a life changing experience at the Vietnam Memorial. While walking along the wall of countless names, I came across a wheelchair-bound veteran who had located a specific date on the wall. He scrolled through the names until he stopped. At which point he leaned forward in his chair and pressed his forehead against the wall where his friends were engraved. He became inconsolable. Part of me wanted to comfort him but I felt that this was something sacred between him and his fallen friends. It is something that jarred my soul, has never left me and I doubt ever will.
I have chosen this charity because when our veterans come home, it doesn't mean that they haven't taken the war home with them and unfortunately it still doesn't mean they will survive either. This charity rescues not only veterans but the dogs a well. All of the service dogs have been rescued. The dogs are trained to deal with the physical, mental, and emotional issues their veteran is living with. The suicide rate among veterans is astronomical. If running this event raises enough money to improve or extend the life of a veteran, it will be all worth it. Please join me in raising funds which will go towards services explained below.
K9s For Warriors is the nation’s largest provider of service dogs to military veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury and/or Military Sexual Trauma. Our program is unique, comprehensive, and proven thanks to research by Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. We provide each warrior with a service canine, equipment, training, certification, seminars, legal instruction, vet care, housing, home cooked meals, unconditional love and listening, and a life-time of wrap-around services. In essence, we don’t just give each of our warriors a service dog, we give them the K9s Family.
The K9s program is 100% free for the veteran. We have our Warriors’ backs.
K9s' Mission: K9s For Warriors is ending veteran suicide and returning our Warriors to a life of dignity and independence. We rescue and train shelter dogs to be paired as Service Dogs for Warriors with service-connected Post-Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury and/or Military Sexual Trauma.
Your donation will make a difference in the lives of a Warrior and rescue dog!