Photo: (left to right) JJ Brown, veteran and singer/songwriter, Fred & Maria Simon, Brad Willis, Kristina and Buzz Fink (Coronado W4H Team).
Team Coronado, in support of Warriors for Healing, raised $5,000 on Feb. 27
CORONADO, Calif. – On February 27 Coronado community members came together in a private home to raise funds for Warriors for Healing. The group raised $5,000 for the Coronado team in only one evening.
Warriors for Healing (W4H) is on a mission to raise funds to bring yoga science to veterans who suffer from PTSD and/or depression and assist them in a journey of self-healing, empowerment and personal wellness. The organization is working with fundraising teams across the nation like Team Coronado to collectively raise $108,000 by their premiere event on June 28, 2015at the Hotel del Coronado. In partnership with Yoga Journal Live, Give Back Yoga Foundation and Connected Warriors Foundation, the goal of the main event is to further the foundational partners efforts to bring as many veterans as possible to heal the seen and unseen stressors of military and combat life.
Photo: JJ Brown (veteran, singer/songwriter) and group.
“It is a privilege to help, even in a small way, our American veterans who sacrifice so much for our freedom,” said Maria Simon, host. “Too many of them are fighting their own battle with PTSD and the scientific data that proves the effectiveness of yoga and meditation as an effective tool in healing the symptoms of traumatic stress is undeniable. We created our “Coronado Team” in hopes of showing veterans that Coronado recognizes, cares and supports their continued health and wellbeing. We want to see this community, where so many of our friends and neighbors are veterans, show up in a big way and make a difference.”
Photo: (left to right) Georgia Ferrell, Deann Brown, Tom Goodwin, Norma Knight, Julie Goodwin and Michelle Dozier.
Bhava Ram, founder of Warriors for Healing and former NBC war correspondent, educated the attendees on the importance of this organization and explained the impact this movement has on veterans’ lives. Tens of thousands of warriors return home from fighting and are faced with potential health crisis like PTSD, resulting in an alarming number of suicides, record levels of domestic violence, incarceration and drug and alcohol abuse.
Photo: (left to right) Fred and Maria Simon, Bhava Ram, Kristina and Buzz Fink.
In June’s 90-minute premiere event of Warriors for Healing, veterans, top fundraisers, and Yoga Journal Live conference participants will join together to celebrate the heroes who have served. The event itself will be live-streamed nationwide and feature more than 600 mats on the Windsor Lawn of the hotel facing the Pacific Ocean.
Fundraising efforts for the W4H Event are underway and run through June 15, 2015. Every $100 raised will provide one veteran with guides and tools to combat PTSD through yoga, while every $250 donation provides guides and tools to combat PTSD through yoga and “funds a mat” for a veteran at the Yoga Journal Live event. Warriors for Healing currently has over 30 teams participating around the U.S. In conjunction with their fundraising efforts they have also launched a scholarship program specifically for veterans, active duty and guards/reserves and applications are now being accepted through their website.
For more information on donating, please visit the “How To Get Involved” page.
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About Warriors for Healing:
The mission of Warriors for Healing Foundation is to raise awareness and funds to support programs for veterans and their families who suffer from PTSD and/or depression and support them on their journey of self-healing, empowerment, and personal wellness. Through the science of Yoga, Warriors for Healing connects Yogis, service groups, spiritual centers, veterans and military supporters to heal the seen and unseen stressors of military and combat life.
