Event organizers hope to raise $50,000 to help with affordable housing for Veterans
FORT PIERCE, Fla. – Oct. 18, 2022 – #DoYouGiveARuck? and Valor 4 Veterans, the charitable fundraising arm of Valor Healthcare, announced today a jointly hosted ruck march aimed at providing funding to build affordable housing for Veterans in St. Lucie County, Florida.
Dubbed Operation Bedrock, the ruck march’s proceeds and all partnership efforts between #DoYouGiveARuck? and Valor Healthcare will benefit the Coalition for Attainable Homes.
The partners will gather on November 12 at 10 a.m. for a 5K ruck march around Dyer Chevrolet, 4200 S. U.S. Highway 1 in Fort Pierce, to raise $50,000 through donations. The ruck march is part of a day-long “Veteran Fest” that includes a BBQ competition with prizes for the winning teams. Judges for the competition include Valor Healthcare CEO Scott Wise, M.D. and U.S. Congressman Brian Mast.
“Having access to affordable housing is a significant problem for the Veteran community, particularly in St. Lucie County, so we can’t think of a better focus for Operation Bedrock,” said Jimmy Jackson, Veteran and founder of #DoYouGiveARuck? “Stats show that some 13% of the U.S. adult homeless population are Veterans. Valor Healthcare, along with #DoYouGiveARuck? and the Coalition for Attainable Homes, are on a mission to change that—and we’re coming together for a huge event on the day after Veterans Day.”
In recent years, “rucking,” or walking or hiking with a weighted rucksack or backpack based on military training and maneuvers, has become a popular form of exercise. In a new twist on the age-old charitable walk, Operation Bedrock will involve participants completing a 5K course while wearing their weighted rucksacks.
As is the case with all military operations, Operation Bedrock participants will start together and finish together in a showing of solidarity after ruck marching through a course around the dealership.
#DoYouGiveARuck? and Valor Healthcare ask participants to fill their rucksacks with non-perishable food, hygiene supplies, and non-breakable baby items that will be donated to help support relief efforts for those impacted by Hurricane Ian.
Anyone who isn’t in the Fort Pierce area but wishes to participate in Operation Bedrock can do so via a virtual 5K ruck march that should be completed in the participant’s own community on November 12. Valor Healthcare employees throughout the country are encouraged to start their own virtual teams for the event, raising money within their respective communities, all of which will be added to the donated contributions.
Valor Healthcare is committed to making Operation Bedrock a successful and worthy charitable event for Valor 4 Veterans and to honor the incredible work being performed by #DoYouGiveARuck? and the Coalition for Attainable Homes by making a meaningful corporate donation to the cause. Any supporters interested in making a contribution of their own can do so by donating directly to #DoYouGiveARuck? or by selecting a Valor Healthcare employee-led team to sponsor.
Ruck marchers can stick around for the 3rd Annual Veterans BBQ Competition, which features live entertainment, special guest appearances, raffle prizes and more. Admission is open to the public and a $10 ticket entitles guests to samples from each BBQ team in attendance.
“We hope that everyone can lock arms with us in our mission to end Veteran homelessness, either by joining us at Vet Fest or by participating in their own community,” said Scott Wise, M.D., MBA, Chief Executive Officer, Valor Healthcare. “Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our country’s bravest heroes.”
Valor Healthcare is the title sponsor for the event, with T-Mobile For Government and Lutz Briggs Schultz and Associates, Inc. as platinum sponsors; Hop Life Brewing Company, Citrus Three Marketing & Advertising and Dyer Chevrolet Fort Pierce as in-kind sponsors; Blueforce Development, Potomac Healthcare Solutions, Executive Press, Tier1 Performance Solutions and Valor Network as silver sponsors; and D Richterkessing Ins Agcy Inc, Celestar, Atlantic Shores Realty, Merritt Group and Fez Productions as bronze sponsors.
Anyone interested in signing up for Operation Bedrock—whether in Fort Pierce or their own community—can do so at https://runsignup.com/Race/Info/FL/LakeWorth/OperationBedrock. Donations can be made directly at https://runsignup.com/Race/Donate/FL/LakeWorth/OperationBedrock.
For more information on #DoYouGiveARuck?, visit DoYouGiveARuck.com. For more information about Valor Healthcare, visit ValorHealthcare.com.
Media Contact:
Josh Hall, Sage & Sterling Communications
Phone: 813-884-9333
Email: [email protected]
About #DoYouGiveARuck?
#DoYouGiveARuck? is a nonprofit organization created for the purpose of Veterans Serving Veterans. We strive to promote local businesses, and veteran services, and to feed the homeless. We rely on local sponsors and participants of our Ruck events to raise money and supplies for local military
About Valor 4 Veterans
Valor 4 Veterans (V4V) is Valor Healthcare’s charitable, fundraising program designed to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Veterans and the local and national charities that support them. To bring awareness to this program and facilitate our fundraising efforts, we have established relationships with non-profits focused on improving the lives of our Veterans.
About Valor Healthcare
Valor Healthcare was established in 2004 and is the largest, most experienced contract provider of VA Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in the country, currently operating more than 50 clinics across the United States that treat over 160,000 Veterans a year. Our clinics provide a full range of medical services tailored to meet the specific healthcare needs of our VA Medical Center partners and the Veterans they serve. We specifically design our facilities to protect the security, privacy, and dignity of our patients, and our clinics utilize the latest design features to ensure our patients are treated efficiently. We were the first CBOC provider to hold The Joint Commission blanket accreditation for Ambulatory Care, meaning any CBOC we open will be accredited by The Joint Commission from day one.
