TOO OFTEN, US VETERANS FACE HOMELESSNESS, ISSUES WITH CHEMICAL ABUSE, RELATIONSHIP INSTABILITIES, AND HIGH RATES OF SUICIDE. PROVIDING AWARENESS AND RESOURCES FOR VETERAN MENTAL HEALTH IS ESSENTIAL TO IMPROVING THE TRANSITION FROM SERVICE TO CIVILIAN LIFE. PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS RAISES AWARENESS ON ISSUES AND PROVIDES SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS IN NEED. COMING TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY IS THE FIRST CRUCIAL STEP FOR MANY INDIVIDUALS.

PIKES PEAK DIVERSITY COUNCIL (PPDC) RECOGNIZES THE POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS OUR VETERANS PROVIDE IN THE PIKES PEAK REGION AND HONOR THE SACRIFICES THEY MADE IN SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY. TO ENCOURAGE, UPLIFT AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL VETERAN COMMUNITY, WE ARE HOSTING A 5K/3K RUN-WALK AT MEMORIAL PARK. THE MENTAL HEALTH 5K/3K RUN-WALK FOCUSES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND ITS POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES.

BRING THE FAMILY AND JOIN US ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST BEGINNING AT 9AM. CHILDREN 15 AND UNDER WALK FREE! WELL BEHAVED AND LEASHED PUPS UNDER YOUR COMPLETE CONTROL ARE WELCOME TO WALK! CANT JOIN US IN THE PARK? THEN JOIN US ONLINE!

WHY I RUN

AS A DISABLED VETERAN, IT WAS DIFFICULT FINDING THE RESOURCES AND SPACES I NEEDED TO TRANSITION INTO CIVILIAN DAILY LIFE. MY AFSC WAS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO A CAREER I WANTED AND I STRUGGLED FINDING THE WORDS FOR MY RESUME THAT WOULD SELL ME TO POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES. THOUGH EVERYONE SAID THEY WERE VETERAN FRIENDLY I DIDNT FEEL IT. I BUMPED AND BRUISED MY WAY THROUGH AND EVENTUALLY RAISED MY FAMILY TO UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE HONOR OF SERVICE. THREE OF MY SONS WENT INTO THE MARINES, TWO ARE NOW DISABLED VETERANS AS WELL. I FOUND THE WALL OF TRANSITIONING INTO CIVILIAN LIFE HAD NOT GOTTEN EASIER. STRUGGLING WITH MY AND THEIR TRAUMA FROM ACTIVE SERVICE WAS ROUGH; STILL IS.

MANEUVERING THROUGH THE EVER-CHANGING MINUTIAE FOR BASIC HEALTH CARE IS TRIGGERING: ANXIETY, FRUSTRATION, CONFUSION ALL WHILE FACING WHAT SEEMS TO BE A ROTATING DOOR OF PROVIDERS AND A NEW COMPUTER OPERATING SYSTEM OR A NEW REFERRAL PROCESS EVERY QUARTER. [I ONLY SLIGHTLY EXAGGERATE.]

IN THESE TIMES OF POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL DISTURBANCE, I INVITE YOU TO JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING OUR CHILDREN AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS, NEIGHBORS, AND FRIENDS IN BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN VETERAN NEEDS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES. IF YOU CAN, PLEASE CONSIDER DOING MORE BY VOLUNTEERING OR DONATING TO CAUSES THAT LIFT OUR COUNTRYS HEROES.

I HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON!

KIMBER REESE,
USAF/SPACE COMMAND DISABLED VETERAN AND MOTHER OF DISABLED MARINE VETERANS





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