Annals Of (Veteran) Inspiration: Sailing And Self-Healing
Subscribe to the Blog RSS FeedNo one who has not been through it can presume to know what it takes for a grievously wounded veteran to pull his or her life back together. And sometimes the paths they travel are unusual, and inspiring. For Ronnie Simpson, a Marine who almost lost his life to an RPG in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004, adventure and personal challenge seem to be the best way to regain a sense of balance and meaning in life. Last year, after recovering from his severe injuries, Ronnie biked 8,000 miles from China to England (where his trusty bike was stolen!). This year, in June, he intends to race a small sailboat singlehanded from San Francisco to Hawaii.
Ronnie's boat is called "Warrior's Wish" and he is sailing on behalf of a veteran's organization called Hope For The Warriors.
Here is what Hope For The Warriors says about its mission:
The mission of Hope for the Warriors® is to enhance quality of life for US Service Members and their families nationwide who have been adversely affected by injuries or death in the line of duty. Hope for the Warriors® actively seeks to ensure that the sacrifices of wounded and fallen warriors and their families are never forgotten nor their needs unmet.
On their own, our service members and their families are awe inspiring in the face of their disabilities and hardships - courageous and resolute. However, it is with the support of a grateful nation that they remain unfaltering in their determination and find hope and purpose beyond recovery. As a united support network, all individuals, whether of great or small means, can find an opportunity to honor those who have willingly sacrificed to defend and protect our freedom.
We couldn't agree more, which is why ServiceNation's Mission Serve initiative to connect the worlds of military and civilian service is one of our most promising and powerful campaigns. So we hope that Ronnie Simpson succeeds, and that his example will indeed help bring hope for the warriors.
You can read all about Ronnie Simpson and his plans here. And if you are moved to help him out, you can make a donation here. Ronnie has tons of photos, and here is a video he made while sailing Warrior's Wish on San Francisco Bay.
