Injured Air Force retiree to take on Appalachian Trail

[TJ aka Teej]

Injured Air Force retiree to take on Appalachian Trail

By Erik Holmes (eholmes@airforcetimes.com)
Air Force Times staff writer


Retired Tech. Sgt. Craig Fitzgerald isn’t letting the injuries he sustained in Iraq prevent him from pursuing a lifelong desire to conquer the Appalachian Trail.
To the contrary, he is using it as motivation.
After sustaining multiple gunshot wounds and undergoing two years of surgeries and rehabilitation, Fitzgerald will hit the trail July 16 to raise money for wounded veterans and their families.
“It’s really long, with a lot of uphills and a lot of downhills,” he said of the trail. “It takes a lot of persistence to accomplish it. I felt it was symbolic of the paths that returning [wounded] soldiers face.”
Fitzgerald and fellow pararescueman Staff Sgt. David Wilcoxen begin their quest, which they’re calling “Trail to Recovery,” with two simple goals: complete the 2,175-mile trail stretching from Maine to Georgia, and raise $100,000 for vets wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.
entire story: http://www.airforcetimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1861127.php (http://www.airforcetimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1861127.php)

[Sly]

I don't normally encourage charity hiking (or donate) but in this case I have no problem.

Thanks for the story and the link.

[SGT Rock]

Thanks for the link. I just saw this today and am too damn proud for words. I knew this was going to happen someday and I think it is a great cause. If you want to donate go here: http://www.firstgiving.com/trailtorecovery

And if you want to show your support go here: http://www.cafepress.com/trailtorecovery and get a t-shirt or something.

Damn fine thing to see some vets, disabled vets at that, hiking hard to support other disabled vets. I wish I could be back home to throw those guys some trail magic.

[Amigi'sLastStand]

Thanks for the link. I just saw this today and am too damn proud for words. I knew this was going to happen someday and I think it is a great cause. If you want to donate go here: http://www.firstgiving.com/trailtorecovery

And if you want to show your support go here: http://www.cafepress.com/trailtorecovery and get a t-shirt or something.

Damn fine thing to see some vets, disabled vets at that, hiking hard to support other disabled vets. I wish I could be back home to throw those guys some trail magic.
Said it better than I could.

[TOW]

right now there is a disabled who vet that goes by the name "eagle" that is hiking the trail, he got injured in the first iraqi war........in fact he has already hiked the pct and cdt and buckeye trails......he is in damascus and staying at the damascus mill inn right now and will be hiking out first thing in the morning heading north.........he has an artificial hip.....

so i think if you can support these guys in their challenge then jump to the call, because they jumped to the call for us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SGT Rock]

In case you haven't noticed, we added a link to the front page for these guys.

I just got an e-mail from Craig (the injured man on the team):



We really appreciate your support. Your website is awesome. Hopefully together we can make a difference. Stay safe and keep in touch. If you'll be back in the states prior to November and are interested in joining us for a leg of the trail- let us know.
-Craig

I highly encourage everyone to support these guys. Please check it out: http://www.trailtorecovery.org/aboutus.html