Owen & Laurel Montoya
Jay’von & Abdullah Salahuddin
Kelly Hess & Sara Garrison
O
n May 20, veterans, both male and female, and their supporters converged
on Veterans Memorial Park for the purpose of raising awareness and funds
benefi ting the Honor Empower Rebuild (HER) Foundation. HER is a
professional foundation that seeks to provide support to the millions of
women veterans who have served their country in the military with pride and dignity.
Like their male counterparts, women veterans face the same problems upon exiting
the military and returning to civilian life. Problems such as homelessness, PTSD,
military sexual trauma, alcoholism, drug abuse, and mental illness. The purpose of
the run, in addition to raising awareness in the community about our fallen sisters, is
to raise funds so that the foundation can provide transitional housing for our homeless
women. The program provides lodging, meals, access to medical and dental care, as well
as counseling, job placement and other social services. Many of the participants were
veterans wanting to do their part to help their military sisters who had fallen on hard
times. Many of the participants were brothers, sisters, parents and children of veterans.
The course wound its way through beautiful sections of Pensacola, providing both
shade and a little breeze on this especially warm and muggy May morning. Before the
8am start of the race, the runners and walkers were given a little boost of energy by Dr.
Sandra Winborne as she gave a rousing rendition of the star spangled banner. Bottled
water, fresh fruit, and uplifting music blasting from the speakers were provided to the
returning runners and walkers. It was a beautiful morning to sacrifi ce some energy for a
worthy cause.
photos & story by
Matt Deavenport
Del & Gailanne Schreiner
VIP Pensacola at Veterans Memorial Park
RUNNING FOR HER
K
5
40 | VIPPensacola.com
40 Event Run for Her 5K 1-pg.indd 1
6/27/17 12:26 PM