Freedom Ride, May 2008

 

 

May was the marking of our first Freedom Ride! Coleen Unsicker hosted our first motorcycle fundraiser. She did a fantastic job! Coleen is a perfectionist pushing for the very best of everything. She was able to secure WalMart as a sponsor for our Freedom Ride, who generously donated a whopping $1,250. The food was donated by Holy Smokes BBQ. If you missed the BBQ and fixin’s, then make it a priority to make it next year!
Four bands signed on to play their hearts out for our service members (all for free), and boy did they play! The Julia Copp Band rocked out at the event with a special dedication to her son who just returned from Iraq.
Congresseman Joe Donnelly came to show his support for our troops, as well. The silent auction had great stuff with lots of fun in bidding to determine who took home the sought-after treasures. Sgt. Klay South addressed the faithful supporters and commended them for taking time out of their busy schedules to remember the needs of our wounded service members. The local VFW graciously granted the use of their home turf for the event.

Coleen will be accompanying VoV to visit National Navel Medical Center and Walter Reed Medical Center in July. Her trip has been donated with frequent flyer miles. Because of Coleen’s commitment to the troops by rearing 5 children who all serve or have served in the United States Armed Forces, it seems only appropriate that she would visit our bravest and best first hand! Congressman Joe Donnelly will be attending, also. They will both be attending VoV Dave & Buster’s monthly family night. We provide an evening out with food, entertainment and games for the wounded service members and their family. Sometimes the outing is the first time off medical center grounds since being wounded. The outing is therapeutic for all involved…most of all the wounded.

Coleen is already planning next year’s Freedom Ride. She has a new vehicle and a moped to be raffled…and it isn’t until next year!!!! We will keep you posted so you won’t want to miss this awesome benefit ride. Even if you don’t ride, the prizes are rockin’, so you will want to come anyway!

UPDATE: We successfully raised $5,600!!!!

A SPECIAL THANKS to Dave’s Sound Equipment for donating your time and products