Helping Our Extended Family
Who am I? I'm an avid runner and military spouse. While I regularly ran marathons before getting married, marriage, moving and children put me on a long "sabbatical" from a race I have always enjoyed. Running the Marine Corp Marathon (MCM) has always been on my bucket list and now that our family is stationed in Washington, D.C., I am capitalizing on the opportunity and running "The People's Marathon" on October 28, 2018.
What is the Fisher House? It is like a Ronald McDonald House for military families. It has over 76 houses in operation and has served over 335,000 families since 1990.(https://www.fisherhouse.org)
It is a top charity for supporting the military with an A+ charity rating. (https://clark.com/scams-rip-offs/charity/a-guide-to-the-best-and-worst-military-charities/)
Why I am raising funds for the Fisher House? I never knew about the Fisher House until recently. A few months ago I read a powerful story about a military spouses' journey as she helped her husband rehabilitate from a near fatal blow to the head while on tour overseas. The article talked about how she had to quit her job and move half-way across the country to be by his side - for months! The Fisher House helped her through that trying time by giving her a place to stay. As I read the article, I could only think about what it would have been like to be in her shoes - the stress of a husband completely changed, the financial stress, the exhausting challenge of having to raise children while caring for a highly dependent husband.
As a military spouse, I have learned that the military families you serve along side are not just friends, they really are family. I've also witnessed the devastation this lifestyle can have on families. A wife and mother of a small child receiving the tragic news that her husband has been killed in action. A friend venting on a run about the challenges and frustration of having a husband with PTSD and TBI. Over the years, I've done a lot of listening, hugging, holding hands, cooking for meal trains and praying. But I've always wanted to do more.
While I have some long-term goals on how I can give back to the servicemen and woman in my own special way, running the MCM to raise funds for the Fisher House is something I can do TODAY.
It's been over 12 years since I ran my last marathon. A lot has changed since then; a "few" moves , a marriage, a house, a dog, three children...and LOTS of (mostly good) memories. ;0) What has never changed is my deep respect for our country and admiration for the people Nelson and I stand alongside and serve - the military servicemen and women and their families.
Running the MCM on Sunday, October 28, and raising funds to help military families who have found themselves on a more challenging path than they imagined is something I am so proud to be doing. I hope you will consider supporting the cause as well. No donation is too small - many hands make little work!
Thank-you for supporting military families!
With Deep Appreciation,
Angela
You can help military and veterans families feel that glimmer of hope when they need it most, at a time of a medical crisis.
Donate with confidence: Fisher House has received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator 14 years in a row and an A+ rating from CharityWatch/American Institute of Philanthropy.
