{"id":94685,"date":"2015-10-24T00:01:37","date_gmt":"2015-10-24T07:01:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/markshea\/?p=94685"},"modified":"2015-10-22T22:07:26","modified_gmt":"2015-10-23T05:07:26","slug":"todays-chance-to-do-a-work-of-mercy-for-vets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/markshea\/2015\/10\/todays-chance-to-do-a-work-of-mercy-for-vets.html","title":{"rendered":"Today’s Chance to Do a Work of Mercy for Vets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

My buddy Glenn Cooper writes:<\/p>\n

Please see below from my dear friend, fellow Navy fighter pilot, and devout Catholic, CAPT John \u201cChucker\u201d Spear, USN (ret).<\/p>\n

John\u2019s wife, Mary, is passionate about helping our wounded vets.\u00a0 To that end, five years ago she ran fifty(!) miles on her fiftieth birthday to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project.\u00a0 Absolutely amazing.<\/p>\n

Well, a couple of weeks ago she topped herself by running 55(!!) miles on her fifty-fifth birthday.\u00a0 The event was hugely supported by the military services in the Virginia Tidewater area.<\/p>\n

Even though the running portion is complete, Mary is continuing to raise money for the effort.\u00a0If you think it appropriate, please peruse the attached articles, links, and videos and post whatever you\u2019d like to help Mary achieve her fund-raising goal of $10,000.<\/p>\n

Thanks, Mark.<\/p>\n

Many thanks for your great idea to help spread the word regarding Mary\u2019s 55-mile charitable run for the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program (VWWP).\u00a0 Both she and I appreciate anything you can do to help raise awareness and gather support for a program that helps all veterans from all services who have served in any conflict from WWI onward.<\/p>\n

Hoping not to choke your inbox or memory, I\u2019ve attached some selected pictures, videos, and news links as well as her original Family and Friends letter and website address for Mary\u2019s run on October 5th<\/sup>, 2015.\u00a0\u00a0 Hopefully, these offer a variety of information to document her 14 \u00bd hour ultramarathon (in very blustery conditions), run with numerous military members and culminating with 40+ soldiers of the Army\u2019s 11th <\/sup>Transportation Battalion.<\/p>\n

Mary\u2019s goal is to raise $10,000 and she is currently at $6,300.\u00a0 The donation link and instructions can be found by visiting the website, www.runningtheextramile.org<\/a> (also listed below) and clicking the Donation <\/strong>box.\u00a0 Please note that the VWWP website has just been updated (now called \u201cVirginia Veterans Services Foundation\u201d) and a distinct block labeled \u201cRunning the Extra Mile<\/strong>\u201d should be checked under \u201cDesignate your donation\u201d <\/strong>banner for proper credit and accounting to Mary\u2019s effort.\u00a0 Donations can currently be processed up to the end of the October.\u00a0 Retired Marine Corps Colonel Jack Hilgers (Cc\u2019d above) will endeavor to keep the \u201cRunning the Extra Mile<\/strong>\u201d option open until November 20th<\/sup> for any donations that follow.<\/p>\n