The REASON for this Winning Woman's TroopWalk 2009 (edited)

Image by Army.mil via Flickr

From Ruth -

Hello to those of you following this TroopWalk 2009 journey!

I appreciate your interest in this event and so do our military service members, veterans, and their families. We are receiving so many emails every day now that I am overwhelmed with appreciation early on in this event, but that volume of correspondence makes it difficult to answer each and every person who contacts me/us to directly.

I appreciate each and every one of you – more than you know – so please keep those emails and text messages coming! You keep me upright, focused, and your support helps me keep moving those tired, achy feet forward on the path to completing a much-needed mission!

There is something I would like our followers to understand:

This TroopWalk 2009 event is about the Founder and President of Inspiring Alliance Military Support Network, a nonprofit service organization that provides transitional support to our military audience, setting aside 5 months or more of her life to make a statement about the unmet needs of our service members, our veterans, and those unsung heroes who support them — the spouses and children who are also affected by sacrifices made by every member of our Armed Forces!

Although my sacrifices seem small in comparison to those made by our soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors, we think it is important for people to understand I am a single woman who has given up my income, my home, my vehicle, my social life (contact with church, family, and friends), and I have set aside my for-profit business in order to be able to invest however many months are necessary to travel from Walter Reed Army Medical Center to the Naval Medical Center San Diego to make a statement on behalf of those individuals Inspiring Alliance serves.

I have listened to countless stories about the challenges our service members face – everything from not being able to find a job when an individual shifts from military service to civilian life to stories of loss of homes, forced bankruptcies and even extended waits of up to 18 months for some of our wounded warriors to receive their first disability check after they have applied for government support. We all recognize the system is flawed, but I wonder how many people think about how issues like this affect the very core of our country.

Stop for a moment to recognize that every service member puts his or her life on hold — in much the same way I have (except that they get paid a wage during their military tenure and I have no income source except for donations and gifts of food or lodging during the tour). In addition, entire families – not just a spouse and children, but extended families – are also affected during that time our nation’s heroes are protecting our freedoms!

Let’s come together, America, and show our support for all these brave men and women do on our behalf. Let’s show them how much we appreciate them as you join me on the sidewalks of VA, WV, OH, IN, IL, MO, KS, CO, UT, NV, and CA to share your understanding of the true price that is paid for Freedom! We love and appreciate all our service members, veterans, and their families do for us — let’s get up out of that chair and off that sofa and PROVE IT!

God bless you all, and God bless our Armed Forces!

Click on map below to see where Ruth is at, and don't forget to donate to the cause at;

http://www.troopwalk.com

Day ONE - Ruth our Winning Woman Trooper

Image by Old Shoe Woman via Flickr

Day One -

As Ruth bowed her head in prayer and remembrance for the many troops who have fought for our freedom, she thought about the fact that she is ready to take her first step on this walk across America alone. No cheering crowds, no media coverage, just one woman, alone with a big heart and desire to help raise awareness for the troops.
Finishing her quiet time, she gazed up and looked toward the Walter Reed Army Hospital and saw two silhouettes waving at her. Thanking God for this encouragement, she began the first day of her 5 month journey at 8AM yesterday, Memorial Day 2009...

Ruth finished her first day walking 27-1/2 miles for the TROOPWALK.com Fundraising event. Sore calves, aching toes, a right foot with 5 broken bones, tired, and exhausted physically but she is excited about the journey and hopes to meet the families of military and supporters of our troops along the way.

If you are able to walk a few minutes, a mile or give words of encouragement as she comes to your town, please come out and meet her.

If you have a hotel, motel, restaurant and can offer food & drink and a place to stay for the night, it would be such a blessing to her.
Please let us know how you can help!

WE have SPOT satellite monitoring with accuracy with her location to let you know where she is.

Keep the prayers and support coming!

Donate Here;

http://www.inspiringalliance.org