ATLANTA, Nov. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thanksgiving Day, NFL Hall of Fame members
Chris Doleman, Emmitt Smith, Curtis
Martin, Bruce Smith and
Michael Haynes will be
featured on CBS NFL Today to give thanks to military
service men and woman and discuss Remembering the 22,
an initiative to raise awareness about veteran suicide.
According to recent studies, a staggering 22 veterans take their
own lives each day due to untreated combat-related stressors
and injuries. Doleman will also be sharing details from his
time spent with the beneficiaries of the non-profit
organization Warriors for Freedom organization.Sportscaster
James (JB) Brown will host and narrate the piece created by
award-winning television producer, Charlie Bloom, set to air on Thursday, Nov. 26 before the Panthers-Cowboys
game at 4 p.m. ET.
Remembering the 22 asks athletes, celebrities,
individuals and businesses to donate $22 to Warriors for Freedom, to take a stand
with them against this epidemic. For more information about
Remembering the 22, go to www.rememberingthe22.org.
Each year, thousands of veterans return from service and find
themselves struggling with PTSD, the after effects of TBI, night
terrors, and untreated clinical depression related to traumatic,
life-changing injuries. The statistic of 22 lives being
lost each day is staggering, and largely unknown by most
Americans. These service members are so challenged by their return
to civilian life that many resort to ending their lives--leaving
behind broken hearts, and forever-changed families left with
tremendous grief and ensuing financial hardship.
But there is hope delivered by a rather unique form of therapy.
Research supports the fact that one of the most effective methods
of counseling takes place between peers. Taking a group out to play
together replicates the camaraderie of military service—and helps
vets open up with one another about the difficulties they may be
experiencing. Reacting to that information, Warriors for
Freedom began their program featuring group activities for
vets. Last year, when contacted by Oklahoma-based organization, Chris Doleman was asked to travel to
Ireland to play golf with disabled
veterans as a form of treatment. Doleman will discuss his time
spent with military heroes as a form of rehabilitative
recreation, and the lasting impact of each of their personal
stories.
Remembering the 22, has been created to raise capital for
recreational outings hosted by Doleman's online fundraising
company, Dolemanity. A donation of just $22 will go toward funding more of these special
events for those returning from deployment.
"I was shocked to learn about the number of suicides that take
place daily by our veterans, and how they struggle when they
come home. After being included on the golf trip, I was able to see
firsthand that recreational therapy works," said Hall of Famer
Chris Doleman.
Warriors for Freedom representative Amber Moulder added, "These men and women
are trained to go into battle and survive, but when they return
home the world they once knew is a foreign country—and there's no
training to help navigate their new lives. Our organization
provides veterans the opportunity to connect with like-minded
heroes who understand their daily struggles."
Dolemanity was founded by NFL Hall of Fame member Chris Doleman. His business provides a platform
for online sweepstakes prizes offer once in a lifetime experiences
for those who donate to worthy causes. Dolemanity currently hosts
the Remembering the 22 campaign to benefit the Warriors for Freedom
initiates. For more information, visit
www.dolemanity.com.
Warriors for Freedom Foundation is a non-profit, tax-exempt
organization that provides support to our nation's heroes and their
families in the areas of outdoor activities, scholarships and
promoting mental health and wellness awareness, specifically post
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), combat stress reaction (CSR),
military sexual trauma (MST), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and
veteran suicide. For more information on Warriors for Freedom
Foundation, go to www.warriorsforfreedom.org.
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SOURCE Warriors for Freedom Foundation