Elon University junior, Clara Martin (Exercise Sports Science, 2012) started a fundraising/community education effort last month to increase awareness about the “hidden wounds of war.” Her project is called T.E.A.M. Hero (Together Elon Athletes and Military) and its goal is to educate as many members of the Elon community as possible about the growing numbers of soldiers returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who are living with the often devastating, lifelong mental and emotional scars of war caused by post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.
T.E.A.M. Hero has already hosted three Mosely table events to present educational materials about PTSD and collect donations for the nonprofit Paws and Stripes (www.pawsandstripes.org), an organization for wounded veterans of the United States military that works to provide service dogs for post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The service dogs are obtained only from shelters, and are trained by professionals specializing in service dogs. It is the aim of this organization to provide these dogs and training for no cost to the veteran.
On April 26, T.E.A.M. Hero will also be present at College Coffee. The culminating event is a softball tournament on April 30 at the Elon recreation fields that will involve students, faculty, members of the Elon ROTC, and local veterans. Special guests include Lindsey and Jim Stanek and his service dog Sarge, the founders of Paws and Stripes.
Any members of the Elon community who are interested in more information can contact Clara Martin (cmartin22@elon.edu) or check out the T.E.A.M. Hero blog. elonteamhero.blogspot.com/.
Students wishing to make cash donations can still visit the T.E.A.M. Hero table at College Coffee on Tuesday, April 26, or donate through the blog.