LANSING, Mich. — The Region 9 Veterans Community Action Team (R9VCAT) and the Michigan State Police Recruitment Division (MSP) are partnering up to keep our homeless veteran heroes warmer this winter. Regional Coordinator Joshua Parish of the R9VCAT and Sgt. Patrick Daugherty of the MSP, with the help of the 136th trooper recruit class, came up with the idea of the warmth 4 warriors 5k to raise funds to purchase parkas that turn into sleeping bags. Daugherty said, “We have always wanted to include in our recruit classes a way to give back to the community and when this opportunity presented itself, we jumped at it. The recruits are excited to do this and so is the command.”
Josh Parish said, “Veteran homelessness is a bigger issue in Michigan than we think, and we can do more to help.” Homeless veterans often suffer from mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and other conditions that make adjusting to civilian life difficult, which often leads to homelessness. Patrick Daugherty said, “I had no idea that the homeless veteran population was so high in Michigan and with the amount of prior military recruits we have it just makes sense to raise awareness for them.”
“Warmth 4 Warriors is in its first year, but we plan on making this an annual event with every recruit class that comes through the MSP academy,” said Parish. The race will be run on the drive track of the MSP training academy, located at 7426 N. Canal Rd., Lansing, MI 48913. The entry cost is $25.00 per person ($30 after October 11) and the first 100 people to register will receive an event t-shirt. If you cannot make the event you can make a tax-exempt donation at the link below.
Other race day activities include: A retired Navy SEAL jumping in to kick off the event, Emergency Support Team (EST) rappelling from the roof of the MSP training academy, light refreshments, a tour of the MSP academy, meet and greet with local troopers and viewing patrol cars and other static displays.
For more information or to register visit: http://bit.ly/Warmth4Warriorsor https://m.facebook.com/MichiganStatePolice
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