RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association Honors Advocate Tracy Keil for Her Work on the Women Veterans and Families Health Services Act of 2015
Highlands Ranch, CO (PRWEB) June 24, 2015 -- On Sunday, June 28th at Redstone Park in Highlands Ranch, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association will host its first annual Colorado Walk of Hope. More than 400 people will come together to raise awareness about the impact of infertility for an all-ages, 1-mile walk that benefits RESOLVE, a national non-profit organization working to improve the lives of women and men living with infertility.
During the program, RESOLVE will honor Colorado resident Tracy Keil with the Infertility Hero Award for her tireless dedication to ensuring that men and women injured during their service to our country receive access to family building options such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Earlier this year U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced a bill that will allow the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) to provide reproductive services, such as IVF, to service members, veterans, and their families who have suffered catastrophic wounds of war that prevent them from starting families. The Women Veterans and Families Health Services Act of 2015 would expand the current fertility services offered to service members and their families by DoD, and end the ban on IVF at the VA.
“No one living with infertility should also have to face the burden of not being able to afford treatment, especially our veterans,” said Barbara Collura, President/CEO, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. “Those who put their own lives at risk and incur an injury that impacts their fertility need the resources to be able to have a family. A person’s reproductive health, and treatment for it, is just as important as other health conditions. We need more people like Tracy talking to their elected officials and educating others on the importance of this bill for our Veteran community.”
Tracy and Matt Keil were married just before Matt was deployed to Iraq for his second tour of duty. A seven-year veteran of the U.S. Army, Matt was serving as an infantry squad leader. Just 43 days after their wedding, a sniper’s bullet hit Matt in the neck. It severed his spine and left him a quadriplegic. Despite his injuries they pursued parenthood via IVF, paying out-of-pocket for the medical expenses. In 2010 Tracy gave birth to twins.
"Every combat injured veteran deserves to pursue their dreams of having a family, even if that includes IVF," said Keil. "I will never give up this fight for veterans to receive these benefits, and realize their dream of having a family. We need your help in bringing awareness to this cause. They have fought for freedom, and they deserve the freedom to do whatever it takes to have a family, including IVF."
RESOLVE will present Tracy with the Infertility Hero award at the Walk of Hope.
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2015
Location: Redstone Park, Highlands Ranch, CO
Time: Check-in 9am, Award Program/Walk 10am
RESOLVE Volunteers, staff and awardees will be available for interviews.
About RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association: Established in 1974, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association is a non-profit organization with the only established, nationwide network mandated to promote reproductive health and to ensure equal access to all family building options for men and women experiencing infertility or other reproductive disorders. One in eight U.S. couples of childbearing age is diagnosed with infertility. RESOLVE addresses this public health issue by providing community to these women and men, connecting them with others who can help, empowering them to find resolution and giving voice to their demands for access to all family building options. For more information, visit http://www.RESOLVE.org.
Elizabeth Johnson, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, +1 (703) 556-7172, [email protected]
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