Thursday, September 19, 2024
GREEN BAY – Team ONE MILE cycled over 100 miles a day from Wisconsin community to community; their mission was to host community events and highlight team veterans and future youth leaders while raising money for the Gold Star children of Camp Hometown Heroes.
“Somewhere in the vicinity of $2,900 to put a kid through this week-long camp. This is life-changing,” event Master of Ceremonies/Marine Corps Combat Veteran Justin LaPree stated.
This year, Team ONE Mile partnered with Wisconsin-based Camp Hometown Heroes.
The organization is focused on helping the children of fallen heroes heal.
The team completed leg No. 5 of six, arriving at event sponsor Nicolet Bank in downtown Green Bay on Friday, Sept. 13.
LaPree spoke about his own struggles.
“I served in the early 2000s when the war first got kicked off. I invaded Iraq in 2003 and I served in the Battle of Fallujah, first and second battle in 2004 into 2005. Lost 23 friends I knew on a first name basis,” he recalled.
“Since then, I have lost 15 friends to suicide that I knew on a nickname basis. So I've suffered a lot of loss. 2018, I attempted to kill myself.
“I was unsuccessful. Thank God, I found purpose. I found hope.”
Part of LaPree’s purpose is also finding hope for the kids at Hometown Heroes.
“They're working with counselors to allow these feelings that for many of them, they bury, and they've suppressed,” he said.
LaPree also spoke about the riders and members of Team ONE MILE.
“This group of humans who are game changers — professional athletes, business owners, entrepreneurs, leaders in their community, veterans, first responders, nurses, firefighters — they took time out of their busy lives, left their loved ones behind; because, they wanted to make the world a better place and leave the world to the next generation better than they found it. That's what impact is,” he added.
LaPree closed with one of his daily mantras, “… if not me, then who?”
Form Battalion Commander of Green Bay’s United States Army Reserve, 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion, Major General Retired Daniel Amermann added said that three riders from Nicolet joined them for the ride from Stevens Point to Green Bay.
“None of us were put on this world to be alone, to be by ourselves. Life only has purpose in others, in our relationships, who we work with, who can help,” Amermann said.
“I thought I knew how to ride a bike. You know, I thought I figured that out at like maybe four or five years old, but this is a little bit different than I would have thought.”
By cycling hundreds of miles, these riders not only raised funds for Camp Hometown Heroes, but also highlighted the importance of community, support and hope and work to ensure that the children of fallen heroes receive the care and attention they need to heal and thrive.
For more information, visit www.teamonemile.com or www.camphometownheroes.org.
