Lockton’s Warfighter Sports Charity Challenge Raises More than $150,000 for Severely Injured Veterans
Rockville, Maryland (PRWEB) September 14, 2016 -- Severely injured veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will participate in a golf tournament presented by Lockton on September 22 that will raise more than $150,000. This funding will provide adaptive sports rehabilitation to severely wounded warriors through the Warfighter Sports program.
Thanks to generous donors in the private sector like Lockton, Warfighter Sports programs are provided free of charge to the injured veteran and a family member, covering all costs including individualized adaptive instruction, adaptive sports equipment, transportation, lodging and meals. Through its support, Lockton is not only providing direct support for the national Warfighter Sports rehab program but also providing an opportunity for our wounded warfighters to participate and play on the prestigious Trump National Golf Course along with corporate sponsors.
“Golf was the spark I was looking for when going through therapy at Walter Reed,” said Chris Bowers, retired Marine Corporal, amputee and participant in the Warfighter Sports Charity Challenge. “I realized the harder I worked in therapy the better my golf game became. Now I am competing nationally and internationally.”
Adaptive sports are an important part of rehabilitation for veterans. A Harris Interactive research study showed that disabled veterans participating in Disabled Sports USA adaptive sports programs were significantly happier, healthier and more likely to be employed than those not participating in adaptive sports.
“It is an honor to us to work alongside our veterans and business colleagues to support Warfighter Sports,” said Josh Olson, a Lockton client executive in Hartford, CT, and co-chair of the event organizing committee with Lockton’s David Giulietti. “The stories from Warfighter Sports are inspiring, and we are excited to help the organization expand its programs to help more wounded veterans.”
Since 2003, Warfighter Sports has served more than 10,000 of the most severely injured veterans and their family members through adaptive sports programming, helping them to rebuild their lives through sports. Disabilities served include single and multiple amputations, spinal cord injury, visual impairment, traumatic brain injury, and severe nerve and muscle damage that impairs movement.
“As someone who lost a leg during combat in Vietnam, I can attest first-hand to the power of sports in the recovery process,” said Kirk Bauer, Executive Director of Disabled Sports USA and a Disabled Vietnam Veteran. “Success in adaptive sports leads to success in all areas of life, including at home, in school and at work. We are very thankful to Lockton and its partners for their generous support of injured veterans through this event.”
The event will be held September 22 at the Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor, New York. To learn more about the tournament, please contact Dave Simonson at dsimonson(at)dsusa(dot)org or 301.217.9837.
About Warfighter Sports
Warfighter Sports, a program of Disabled Sports USA, offers sports rehabilitation for wounded warriors with permanent physical disabilities in military hospitals and communities across the U.S. in partnership with a nationwide network of over 120 community-based chapters. Since 1967, Disabled Sports USA has proudly served wounded warriors, including those injured in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, offering over 50 winter and summer sports at more than 100 events each year. Warfighter Sports rebuilds lives through sports by improving self-confidence, promoting independence and uniting families through shared healthy activities.
Contributions cover all expenses for participation of the warrior and a family member, including individualized adaptive instruction, adaptive sports equipment, transportation, lodging and meals. Since 2003, more than 10,000 of the most severely wounded and their families have been served, including those with amputations, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, visual impairments, and significant nerve and muscle damage. For more information, visit http://www.warfightersports.org.
About Lockton
More than 6,000 professionals at Lockton provide 50,000 clients around the world with risk management, insurance, employee benefits consulting, and retirement services that improve their businesses. From its founding in 1966 in Kansas City, Missouri, Lockton has attracted entrepreneurial professionals who have driven its growth to become the largest privately held, independent insurance broker in the world and 9th largest overall. For seven consecutive years, Business Insurance magazine has recognized Lockton as a "Best Place to Work in Insurance." To see the latest insights from Lockton's experts, check Lockton Market Update.
Karalyn Stott, Disabled Sports USA, http://www.disabledsportsusa.org, +1 240-268-2180, [email protected]
Share this article