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'Celebrity Magnet' Tom Murro attended the Hike for Heroes cocktail fundraiser at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers in New York City on June 15th. The CEO of Modell's Sporting Goods, Mitchell Modell, held the event for Iraq War Veteran Troy Yocum.
32-year-old Troy Yocum decided to embark on an incredible journey to help raise awareness and money for military families. The project, which is sponsored by the nonprofit Solder's Angels, is assisting returning war veterans and their families with medical, housing, and personal problems. Therefore, Yocum, his wife, Mareike, and their two dogs have created a mission to walk 7,800 miles across America in hopes of raising $5 million for their cause. They began the hike on April 17th 2010 and plan to return home September 3, 2011. So far, they have clocked in at 6,400 miles and raised $200,000 on their own.
Once Louisville Slugger sponsored the Louisville native's hike, Yocum drew his map to include stops at Cubs and White Sox games in Chicago, Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, the College World Series and Minor League parks. After walking an exhausting 13 months, and being hospitalized twice, the Yocum family was doubtful that their end goal could be reached. That is when Modell stepped in to help the family when he rallied friends and raised an additional $260,000 in three months. During a press conference held on Wednesday, Modell announced he will be asking the customers of his store, along with customers of other big-name retailers, to donate $1 to help military families. This small donation could accumulate to $1 million for the cause.
Yocum finally brought his Hike for Heroes trail all the way to the Big Apple where Modell had set up his big welcoming party and cocktail fundraiser. The family could now relax for a bit , but know they were still raising money for the event, even if their feet weren't in action. When Murro asked Yokum how he kept from withering away to nothing from all that walking, Yocum replied with '' I've spend allot of time in Dairy Queen along the way''.
Some of the celebrities that came out to assist with the charity were boxing legend Gerry Cooney, MLB star Jim Leyritz, NBA star Al Harrington, Sopranos stars Vince Curatola ,Steve Schirripa along with comedian Robert Wuhl. Murro got a chance to meet all of them as they discussed the great strength it must take a man to complete a journey such as this one.
With 5,000 raised, the Yocum family continued their journey the next day. As the band 'The Proclaimers' would say, "I would walk 500 miles," well the Yocum family can say right back, "and I would walk 7,000 more."
Photo credit Yoni Levy/photographybyyoni.com
24 Jun, 2011
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Source: http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/arts-entertainment/2011/06/man-hikes-across-country-to-raise-money-for-our-heroes.html
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