Air Force retiree walks the walk for 100 Miles for Hope
Bob Fitzgerald is persistent and consistent.
The 83-year-old retired Air Force master sergeant has logged more than 200 miles walking since the second annual 100 Miles for Hope challenge kicked off. He has also raised roughly $1,300 thus far, easily eclipsing his initial goal of $1,000.
Fitzgerald, a member of American Legion Post 861 in Sacramento, walks at least two miles daily, and completes three miles on two or three days a week. But he’s not lollygagging. He averages 16 ½ minutes per mile.
“When I saw the notice in The American Legion Magazine, I thought, ‘Well, shoot, I’m walking every day, anyway. Why not?,’” said Fitzgerald, who says he has walked at least 5,000 steps daily since Nov. 9 last year. “I do what I can to support veterans. And the Veterans & Children Foundation (V&CF) sounded like an excellent program to support. 100 Miles for Hope gave me the opportunity to do that.”
One hundred percent of donations for 100 Miles for Hope goes right to the foundation. Since its creation almost a century ago, the V&CF has delivered over $30 million in assistance to disabled veterans and military families. The foundation funds the work of 3,000 accredited American Legion service officers who provide free assistance to veterans seeking help with their earned VA benefits. It also provides Temporary Financial Assistance grants to minor children of active duty or American Legion members.
Fitzgerald, who has been an American Legion member for more than 30 years, knew that his family members and friends would be more likely to donate through familiar mediums than an app that others used. So he turned to Facebook and other means to ask for support to reach his initial goal of $1,000. Here are some tips on fundraising.
“Family members donated because I asked them to — but also because they believe in the cause, supporting veterans and children,” Fitzgerald said. “My friends donated because they respect the fact that I am a veteran and I support veterans causes. They are all very patriotic and support veterans as well.”
His supporters quickly surpassed the fundraising goal, so Fitzgerald increased it to $1,500. He’s confident that in the final weeks of the 100 miles campaign, he will reach that goal.
Officially, the 100 miles campaign concludes on Sept. 6. So there is still time to help American Legion National Commander James “Bill” Oxford reach his goal of raising $300,000 for the V&CF, which would double the amount of donations from the first 100 miles challenge.
Click here to make a tax-deductible donation that goes directly toward supporting the nation’s disabled veterans and military families who face financial crises.
“I would encourage everyone, if they are looking for something to support, to look at The American Legion Veterans & Children Foundation,” Fitzgerald said. “I can’t think of a better way to donate your money. A large percentage (100 percent) goes to benefit the foundation.”
Fitzgerald encourages everyone to participate any way they can: walking, donating, doing yoga, fundraising, cycling, whatever it takes to embrace fitness, improve wellness and support the foundation.
“Persevere — get off the chair and do it,” he advised. “And don’t give up. I’m almost 84 years old and if I can get up and walk two miles every day at a fairly fast pace, there’s no reason why a lot of other people can’t.”