Dave Cockman of Cary, NC, will attempt a solo, self-supported 600-mile run across North Carolina in April to raise money for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, a leading wounded veterans charity. The run will start on April 4, 2015 from the border of Tennessee/North Carolina, just west of Murphy, NC and finish at the Atlantic Ocean on Jennette’s Pier. Calling his run “The Murphy to Manteo 600,” Cockman plans to cover 50 miles a day for 12 days.
The idea came to Dave last year after he finished his first 200 mile solo run, from Garner, NC to Atlantic Beach, NC. “I felt strong after that run; I felt I could achieve more. I decided I would like to do something that would push me to my mental and physical limits, and do it in honor of our wounded veterans” said Cockman.
“Our work to serve those who served our nation is only possible with contributions from people like Dave Cockman,” said David Winters, President of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. “We are extremely grateful for Dave’s commitment to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund which will help ensure that our heroes will receive the best possible treatment to help them and their families begin to recover from injuries they sustained in the line of duty.”
Along the way, Cockman is hoping veterans and first responders will run sections with him. The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund is a leader in supporting the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families. Begun in 2000 and established as an independent not-for-profit organization in 2003, the Fund has provided more than $150 million in support of families of military personnel lost in service to our nation, and for severely wounded military personnel and veterans.
These efforts are funded entirely with public donations and tens of thousands of individuals have contributed. In 2010, the Fund addressed a critical issue faced by our wounded troops: the treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and psychological health conditions with construction of a 72,000 square foot, two-story facility on the Navy campus at Bethesda, Maryland, to provide the most advanced services for affected military personnel.
In 2013 the Fund launched a campaign to build up to nine additional “Intrepid Spirit” centers at military bases around the country. These centers will be satellites to the central facility and extend urgently needed care to more troops and closer to their homes. Construction of all nine centers will cost $100 million. The first two centers at Fort Belvoir, VA and Camp Lejeune, NC, began operations in July 2013. The Intrepid Spirit center in Fort Campbell, KY opened in September 2014, and construction is underway in Fort Hood, TX.
Another center is under construction at Ft Bragg, NC, and raising the remaining funds will guarantee the centers can be built and put into operation. The donations collected during Cockman’s run across North Carolina, will go toward building the new center at Ft Bragg.
Cockman will document the places he eats, sleeps and the people he meets for a story about the journey afterwards. Want to follow his journey, donate, or help sponsor the run? Check out his MurphytoManteo Web site and Facebook page.
Posted on February 26 2015 in News