ATLANTA — HD Supply announces its second consecutive year as a title sponsor of the “Shepherd’s Men” run. The Shepherd’s Men is a 15-member team of servicemen, one civilian and, as an honorary member, HD Supply’s Chairman and CEO Joe DeAngelo, who will run 13.7 miles a day for nine days to raise awareness and this year’s goal of $1 million for the Shepherd Center’s SHARE Military Initiative.
The SHARE Military Initiative is a comprehensive rehabilitation program that focuses on assessment and treatment for service men and women who have sustained a mild to moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
“Our service men and women fought for us. It’s our turn to fight for them,” said Joe DeAngelo, chairman of the board, president and CEO, HD Supply. “We are honored to support the Shepherd’s Men’s rigorous efforts to help all of our warriors come back home all of the way.”
To raise awareness and funds for the program, each of the Shepherd’s Men will run the equivalent of a half-marathon (13.7 miles) for nine consecutive days while wearing 22-pound flak vests and armor plates. DeAngelo will match the team mile-for-mile remotely while also wearing the 22-pound flak vest. The vests simulate the gear worn by U.S. military troops and symbolize the difficulties many experience after returning from combat.
The run starts on March 26 in Boston and ends on April 3 at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. The Shepherd’s Men itinerary is:
- Boston, Massachusetts – March 26
- Newport, Rhode Island – March 27
- Manhattan, New York – March 28
- Gettysburg, Pennsylvania – March 29
- Lynchburg, Virginia – March 30
- Knoxville, Tennessee – March 31
- Nashville, Tennessee – April 1
- Chattanooga, Tennessee – April 2
- Atlanta, Georgia – April 3
“We will carry 22 extra pounds in the vests to bring attention to the 22 deaths by suicide of U.S. veterans every day,” said Travis Ellis, civilian organizer of the run. “Through this run, we are sharing the burden our veterans carry every day as they try to rebuild their lives.”
The Shepherd’s Men goal is to raise $1 million, of which, 100 percent of the proceeds will be used for the SHARE Military Initiative. Please visit shepherdsmen.com for more information and to make donations.
Tagged with HD Supply, military, tED