For weeks, students at St. Michael School in Augusta have gathered pledges from their families, friends, and community members. Garnering support has not been difficult once potential donors are told of who will benefit from their generosity.
On Wednesday, May 2, the third annual
St. Michael School and Travis Mills Foundation Walk-A-Thon will be held at the school, located on 56 Sewall Street in Augusta
(pictures from last year below). At 9:30 a.m., the students will begin walking laps around the school block with parent volunteers supervising. Before the event gets underway,
Travis Mills will deliver a special speech for participants and community members in the school gym at 9 a.m.
A free barbecue lunch will be offered to students and staff at 11 a.m. The proceeds from the Walk-A-Thon benefit the Travis Mills Foundation.
“The hope this year is that we make enough money to pay for one full week of operation for all the vets and their families,” said Kevin Cullen, principal of St. Michael. “What a proud day it will be for all of us when we can say to ourselves, we've got this. This is a great way to help our country.”
Mills, a retired United States Army Staff Sergeant of the 82
nd Airborne, is one of only five quadruple amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was wounded by an improvised explosive device during his third tour in Afghanistan in 2012. During his recovery, Mills discovered a passion for inspiring fellow wounded servicemen and women. He founded the Travis Mills Foundation, a nonprofit organization, formed to benefit and assist wounded and injured veterans and their families. He has traveled around the country as a motivational speaker, inspiring thousands to overcome life’s challenges and defy odds. In 2015, his book,
Tough as They Come, was published.
Community members are invited to cheer the walkers on May 2, and media members are encouraged to cover the event. To offer a pledge, call the school office at (207) 623-3491. For more information, contact Dave Guthro, Communications Director for the Diocese of Portland, at (207) 321-7810 or
[email protected].