Mister Can You Spare a "Dime"??

If you read military blogs regularly, you are probably familiar with our wild and wonderful friend Chuck Z -- a US Army Major (well, he was a lowly Captain back then) who was seriously wounded in Iraq just weeks before Noah was wounded. I have lost count of the number of Chuck's surgeries -- I think his 35th was in January. Chuck has a blog "From My Position... on the way" which was the venue through which I am privileged to know him and his beautiful and wonderful wife, Carren. When Chuck lost the use of his hands as a result of his wounding, he inspired one of his blog readers to begin the Soldiers' Angels Project Valour IT which has provided and continues to provide voice-activated laptops for wounded soldiers (many hundreds... or maybe over a thousand now??) and for which he helps raise significant sums of money.

Well, now Chuck has added another personal test and goal for himself -- to ride in the 2008 Face of America Bike Ride, a two-day inclusive bike ride from Bethesda, MD to historic Gettysburg, PA the National Naval Medical Center to honor and assist our disabled veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. READ THE DETAILS FROM CHUCK (below) or go to his blog entry for April 6, 2008 to read more.

Please consider making a donation of any amount to Chuck's endeavor and PLEASE forward this to all your friends and family. If you have a corporate donations program, please consider nominating this ride. There is no worthier cause... please do it today.

THANK YOU!!
Carla, Some Soldier's Mom

From: Chuck Ziegenfuss
Subject: From My Position... hell on wheels 2008

I am participating in this, and am trying to raise between $5K (personal goal) and $10K (team goal). I am $3k short of my personal goal right now, and the event is only a scant 3 weeks away.

I am writing to not only ask for your contributions, but to also as for you to spread this information through your address books, word of mouth, web pages, and any other means at your disposal.

ANY amount, even a single dollar is appreciated. This is my personal achievement after being wounded. Completing this ride will mark almost three years or rehabilitation, over 30 reconstructive surgeries, and healing from being wounded in 2005. It is my honor to ride along with other wounded warriors. Please donate what you can, and ask others to do likewise.

Link for donations: GO HERE

More information from the website:

On May 3rd & 4th 2008 World Team Sports, working with The Walter Reed Army Medical Center, The National Naval Medical Center, The Brooke Army Medical Center, The Soldiers Angel Fund, The Severly Injured Semper Fi Fund, and others will be hosting our 2008 Face of America Bike Ride, a two-day inclusive bike ride from Bethesda, MD to historic Gettysburg, PA the National Naval Medical Center to honor and assist our disabled veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This ride is an opportunity to welcome these disabled servicemen and women ,and able-bodied servicemen and women, as teammates and show them how much we appreciate their efforts. We will also have the opportunity to show them that they can still be a part of the TEAM.

There is no charge for any active duty servicemen or women, both able-bodied and disabled, to participate. There is a $ 400 minimum fund raising goal for all other participants. The money raised will pay for all the costs of the active duty participants, including accommodations, food, outreach, providing usage of bikes, cycling clinics,and all other costs associated with the ride.

--
Chuck Z