By Frank Lewis
Homeless veterans in Ohio will benefit from a walk scheduled for this Saturday. The All Gave Some, Some Gave All River Walk 5K walk will be held at the Russell D. Williams Post of the American Legion, 950 Gallia Street in Portsmouth with registration to begin at 9 a.m. and the walk to step off at 10 a.m.
The proceeds from the walk will go to support ALA District 7 Jr. President Sierra Bradley’s project to help homeless veterans in Ohio.
The fee for the walk is $20 and $10 for anyone 16 years of age or younger. Activities chairman Betty Taylor said there is another aspect of the walk that walkers will enjoy. The route will include the scenic murals in downtown Portsmouth.
The vast majority of homeless veterans, 96 percent, are single males from poor, disadvantaged communities. Homeless veterans have served in World War II, Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the military’s anti-drug cultivation efforts in South America.
About 53 percent of individual homeless veterans have disabilities, compared with 41 percent of homeless non-veteran individuals. Half suffer from mental illness; two-thirds suffer from substance abuse problems; and many from dual diagnosis (which is defined as a person struggling with both mental illness and a substance abuse problem).
Event T-shirts are available for $7 and anyone needing more information can contact American Legion Auxiliary District 7 Jr. Activities Chairman, Betty Taylor at 740-250-3249 or Tiffany Cooper at 740-727-1991.
Reach Frank Lewis at 740-353-3101, ext. 1928, or on Twitter @franklewis.
