MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL, Minn., Aug. 18, 2017 -- Marine Corps veteran and wounded warrior Greg Padilla was on the last stretch of road before the last stop of the day when he opened up about his experiences on a bicycle over the last two days.
"There's been a lot of bonding among everyone, but when you have that added element of being injured, you find yourself in one of two camps – you're either isolated, or you're not isolated," Greg said. "A lot of the warriors here actually identified themselves as isolated. And this was an opportunity for them to speak with other veterans, engage with other veterans, and do something other than hiding within our homes."x
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2017 -- Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) targets its programs and services to the nearly 130,000 veterans and family members it serves. But WWP efforts directly impact millions more veterans through government policy efforts and partnerships.
In a survey of the injured veterans WWP serves, more than three out of four (76 percent) warriors live with the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
One of those partnerships is Warrior Care Network® – an innovative effort with four top academic medical centers and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Through this partnership, veterans living with PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are treated in intensive outpatient programs at one of the partner facilities such as the Road Home Program at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Warrior Care Network provides more than 70 hours of therapy for patients during the two-to-three-week program.
SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 16, 2017 -- Women veterans recently attended an all-female Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) mental health workshop in Park City, Utah. The week kicked off with team building exercises. Throughout the five-day experiential learning event, warriors committed to personal goals they'll focus on for six months after the workshop. While these gatherings are often the first time warriors leave their homes to connect with one another and their communities, warriors return home with a network of supportive bonds to help them on their roads to recovery.
"Combat stress has made my life a roller coaster," said Stephanie Ingram, Army veteran and San Antonio resident. "I've been homeless and unemployed, but the thing that hurts most is the rejection and assumptions that come from the stigma of post-traumatic stress. When I watched a Wounded Warrior Project commercial, I was inspired to participate in the mental health workshop to challenge myself and connect with warriors who have similar obstacles – to embrace and learn from them."
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Aug. 15, 2017 -- Papa John's® is teaming with Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) to support wounded warriors through the nonprofit. Now through Sept. 17, when customers purchase the WWP Combo at participating locations on papajohns.com, Papa John's will donate $2.22 for every special sold. With promotion code WWP22, this combo includes two large two-topping pizzas and a two-liter Pepsi® product for $22.22.
The donation amount from each combo sale reflects and brings awareness to the 22 veterans who take their lives each day. These veterans may struggle with a lack of resources and support for the visible and invisible wounds of war – something WWP combats by connecting wounded veterans with programs and services that empower them to live their lives on their terms.
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 11, 2017 -- When Marine Corps veteran Nicole Robinson arrived in San Diego, she had two goals – to support the other warriors around her and stay positive. She attended Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) Soldier Ride® with 40 wounded veterans to connect with them while challenging herself during the multi-day bicycling event.
"Adaptive sports are really important, and they helped saved my life," Nicole said. "After my injury got really bad, I missed running, hiking, and staying active."
Like all of WWP's physical health and wellness programs, Soldier Ride is adaptable to the stage of recovery of each wounded veteran. At the start of every Soldier Ride, warriors are fitted with adaptive cycling equipment to accommodate injuries and make the ride as comfortable as possible. For Nicole, this was especially important with her severe injury that greatly limits her mobility.
