I will be running with Team Fisher House in the 40th Marine Corps Marathon in October! When I heard about TFH and their support towards helping military families, I wanted in. When I received a personal phone call from one of the founders, who is also a military spouse/runner, welcoming me to the team I knew TFH was going to become my family. It is going to be an exciting journey ahead! It would take me all day to share all of the good that Fisher House Foundation does to help and support our service members, veterans, and their families, but here is a little bit about them.
The Fisher House is a unique private-public partnership that supports America’s military in their time of need. The program recognizes the special sacrifices of our men and women in uniform and the hardships of military service by meeting a humanitarian need beyond that normally provided by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.
These homes are located at major military and VA medical centers nationwide, close to the medical center or hospital they serve. Fisher Houses have up to 21 suites, with private bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, a warm dining room and an inviting living room. Fisher House Foundation ensures that there is never a lodging fee. Since inception, the program has saved military and veterans’ families an estimated $235 million in out of pocket costs for lodging and transportation.
Fisher House Foundation also operates the Hero Miles program, using donated frequent flyer miles to bring family members to the bedside of injured service members as well as the Hotels for Heroes program using donated hotel points to allow family members to stay at hotels near medical centers without charge. The Foundation also manages a grant program that supports other military charities and scholarship funds for military children, spouses and children of fallen and disabled veterans. You can read more here.
I was challenged to raise $600 and because of the generosity of others, I reached my goal one month into fundraising (Thank you so much to all who donated)…I still can’t believe it! This is my first “real” fundraiser since fundraising with Krispy Kreme doughnuts to help get my cheerleading squad get to the National Cheerleader Championship in Orlando…many, many years ago! So do you know what that means? I had to set another goal! I bumped my goal from $600 to $1000!
If you want to help me help military families, here is my personal donation page: http://ww.teamfisherhouse.org/goto/artwalker! I shared in my previous post why I chose to run for this great foundation and below is another reason why I chose Team Fisher House for Fisher House Foundation.
[Tweet “I’m running with Team Fisher House to help military families! Help me reach my goal! #MCM40”]
Grab the Kleenex!
Fisher House Hero’s Story—Iraq War veteran and Purple Heart recipient Ssgt Dale Beatty (ret.) remembers the day his life changed forever and how Fisher House Foundation helped him and his family on the long road to recovery.
Thank you for your support!
Great job!