The Travis Mills Foundation's Maine Retreat for Combat-Injured Vets Celebrates Inaugural Season
Rome, Maine (PRWEB) September 28, 2017 -- This summer, the Travis Mills Foundation opened its doors to the historic Maine Chance Lodge & Retreat, a fully accessible facility for combat-injured veterans and their families. The retreat welcomed 57 veterans and their families from 23 states, 150 people in all.
Over the course of seven weeks, guests enjoyed paddleboarding, kayaking, fly fishing, bass fishing, boating, tubing, hiking, yoga, archery, equine therapy, pottery, baking classes, kids’ crafts, golf, cycling, disc golf, martial arts, massage therapy, and more.
“We couldn't have asked for a more successful summer,” said program director Kelly McGaughey. “We are excited to bring in more families this year as we look to double our programming next year!”
To celebrate the success of the inaugural season, the Foundation is hosting an Open House at the retreat on Sunday, October 28th from 11:00am-4:00pm. Visitors can take a tour, meet SSG Mills, sign up to volunteer, and learn about the programming this summer and plans for the future.
In addition, the Foundation plans to welcome 32 more families before year’s end. The week of October 22nd will be Caregiver Retreat Week, with a special focus on the mothers who – for months or for years – devoted themselves to their children as they worked their way back to independence. The week of Sunday, October 29th will welcome post-9/11 couples, and the following week will host post-9/11 veterans with children.
In December, the Foundation will bring combat-injured veterans from Houston and Florida who have had another tough hand dealt to them due to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The retreat will offer these families a respite to celebrate the holidays in a tranquil, cozy environment.
The 1,200-acre property located in Maine’s beautiful Belgrade Lakes region is a dream come true for U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Travis Mills, who lost all four limbs after an IED explosion in Afghanistan in April 2012. The retreat is SSG Mills’s way of honoring other veterans for their service and sacrifice, as well as their families who support them.
Thanks to the generous support of donors and sponsors across the country, the Travis Mills Foundation covers all costs associated with providing recalibrated warriors and their loved ones the space and services they need to recover, reconnect, and reintegrate.
“We’re grateful for the donations we get – from big companies, local businesses, even kids giving their birthday money,” said SSG Mills. “I also want to say a heartfelt thank you to the 120+ volunteers who helped to cook, clean, and make our first families feel welcome this summer.”
To support the Travis Mills Foundation, go to http://www.travismills.org.
ABOUT TRAVIS MILLS
In 2012, SSG Mills was on a mission during his third tour of duty in Afghanistan. He set his backpack down and a buried IED exploded on impact. When Travis woke up four days later on his 25th birthday, he had lost all four limbs. Travis is one of only five veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive his quadruple amputee injuries. http://www.travismills.org
ABOUT THE TRAVIS MILLS FOUNDATION
The Travis Mills Foundation supports combat injured veterans and their families through long-term programs that help these heroic men and women overcome physical obstacles, strengthen their families, and provide well-deserved rest and relaxation. http://www.travismills.org/foundation
Brandy M. Cain, Travis Mills Foundation, http://www.travismills.org, +1 2074803490 Ext: 2, [email protected]
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