
National Commander Oxford encourages others to join him in the 100 Miles for Hope campaign to support veterans and children.
American Legion National Commander Bill Oxford kicked off the 100 Miles for Hope campaign to benefit the organization’s Veterans & Children Foundation on Aug. 3. He was joined virtually by Sons of The American Legion Commander Clint Bolt and Auxiliary President Nicole Clapp, who also started their 100 miles of walking over 100 days through Veterans Day.
The 100 Miles for Hope campaign is a way for American Legion Family members to raise donations for the Veterans & Children Foundation, as well as staying active in this time of social distancing. Participants have from the official kickoff of Aug. 3 through Veterans Day to run, walk, or ride a bike or their motorcycle for 100 miles.
Oxford is challenging himself to walk 100 miles and ride his bike for 100 miles during the campaign.
“The social-distancing measures in place are meant to keep us safe from the pandemic,” Oxford said. “But they will not stop The American Legion from its steadfast support of our nation’s veterans, military families and their communities. This campaign helps keep the foundation strong, while encouraging our Legion Family members to get some exercise and fresh air.”
He points out the 100-day time frame was selected so that walkers could average one mile a day – roughly 20 to 30 minutes – which is the activity level many health experts recommend. It does not matter whether you walk for 100 miles, or combine walking with running or riding a bike to get the total distance. Any combination to reach the 100 miles is acceptable.
American Legion Riders are also encouraged to participate. For Riders, they could easily knock off 100 miles in a single trip.
Registration
The first step for participants is to register at Emblem Sales, emblem.legion.org. For the $30 registration fee, participants will receive a slick tech shirt (men’s, women’s and children’s sizes available), a finishing sign and a link to download a certificate of accomplishment when the distance is completed. Roughly half of the fee covers the production and shipping of the shirts. The remainder goes directly into the Veterans & Children Foundation.
Share your journey on social media
Oxford encourages participants to document at least the start and end of their 100-mile journeys on social media. Use social media hashtag #100MilesforHope and tag The American Legion so the national media team can share your posts.
American Legion posts, units, squadrons and/or chapters can participate as a group while adhering to social-distancing guidelines, Oxford says. They may also want to create an event around one of the celebrations in the August-Veterans Day time frame such as Patriot Day, American Legion Day or Veterans Day.
To ensure on-time delivery for events, Emblem Sales offers these recommendations for key dates:
- Order by Aug. 17 to receive by Sept. 8, for a Patriot Day (Sept. 11) event.
- Order by Aug. 24 to receive by Sept. 14, for American Legion Day, Sept. 16.
- Last call, order by Oct. 19 to receive by Nov. 9, for a Veterans Day event.
Posts could create an event related to the 100 Miles campaign to raise additional money for V&CF or another Legion charity. For example, a post could hold one of its standard fundraisers (anything from passing a hat to a BBQ cookout to a drive-thru order ahead meal) and use it as a way to promote involvement in 100 Miles for Hope.
A Legion Riders chapter could put together a 100-mile ride, return to the post where a fundraiser meal is being held, whether it is a meal at the post itself or a pickup due to social distancing protocol. Either way, a post would be able to provide a meal(s) for others with the proceeds from their donation going toward V&CF or a fundraiser of the post’s choosing.
“There are many ways posts can stimulate involvement in their membership and local communities to support this important cause,” Oxford says. “Posts may want to consider holding a special event to honor their members upon completion of their 100 miles. With the campaign’s conclusion on Veterans Day, that would be a great ‘finish line’ and a time for the post and participants to celebrate their accomplishments. A post could even host a challenge to see who can walk the most miles in the time period and then honor that person.”
Whether participants pursue an individual quest for 100 miles, or do so as a group, Oxford recommends sharing the journey as a way to spread the word.
As participants travel their 100 miles, they are encouraged to post on social media with the #100MilesForHope hashtag. After completing the distance, Oxford suggests sharing the accomplishments on the Legiontown website, www.legiontown.org. An editor will review the submissions, which may be published in national media.
Oxford reminds Legion Family members to keep the campaign’s purpose in mind. The V&CF provides necessary funds to train and support The American Legion’s network of more than 3,000 accredited service officers who represent veterans, at no cost, with their benefits claims and other needs. It also provides Temporary Financial Assistance grants for military families facing financial crises
“I look forward to this challenge and seeing how the American Legion Family responds,” he said. “But even more importantly, I am delighted that we will be directly contributing in such a positive way to improving the lives of our fellow veterans, as well as military families who through no fault of their own need the support of The American Legion.”
Get started
Visit www.legion.org/100miles and register at www.emblem.legion.org.
- Dispatch