By Dave Ongie, News Editor
Last year, the Shepherd’s Men made their inaugural visit to Johnson City thanks to a partnership with TruPoint Bank, and the group will return this Friday morning to continue their mission of supporting veterans battling the effects of traumatic brain injuries.
The group came to Johnson City last Memorial Day weekend to stage a 22K run aimed at raising awareness and funds for the SHARE Military Initiative at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. The SHARE program is a comprehensive rehabilitation program focused on assessment and treatment for servicemen and servicewomen who sustained traumatic brain injuries during their service in Iraq and Afghanistan and suffer from post traumatic stress disorder as a result.
The Shepherd’s Men were joined by several local participants during their inaugural run through Johnson City, which included a stop in the VA Cemetery. The contingent was met at the end of the run by members of the community in the parking lot of TruPoint Bank.
All told, the Shepherd’s Men raised over $1 million for the Shepherd Center during last year’s seven-day campaign and hopes to improve on that number during this year. Every penny raised during the group’s annual campaign goes to the SHARE Military Initiative at the Shepherd Center.
Those planning to participate in the entire 22K run with the Shepherd’s Men should meet in the parking lot of the Carnegie Hotel at 7 a.m. on Friday. The run is scheduled to begin at 7:30. Those wishing to run the final 5K with the group should be in the TruPoint parking lot by 10 a.m.
Those who are unable to run with the group but looking for a way to support the Shepherd’s Men can gather in the bank’s parking lot around 10:45 a.m. to welcome the runners to the finish line. There will be a short reception in the parking lot at TruPoint, 709 Med Tech Parkway, around 11.
More information about the partnership between TruPoint Bank and the Shepherd’s Men can be found by reading the following story: jcnewsandneighbor.com/shepherds-men-on-a-mission-to-help-veterans/. For more information on the Shepherd’s Men and the work being done at the Shepherd Center, visit www.shepherdsmen.com
