HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Sunday morning, three men with the Navy SEAL Foundation officially started their journey walking from Huntsville all the way to Franklin, Tennessee.
“I’ve been fortunate in my life and I’ve never served, and so I thought, well, this is a good way to give back,” said Doug Cain. Cain is an ambassador for the Navy SEAL Foundation. “I had a lot of relatives that have served, and so I just wanted to do this for them.”
So, his way of giving back is walking more than a hundred miles to raise money, awareness and spread the word about the Navy SEAL Foundation and all the ways they serve veterans and their families.
“We are starting right here at the veterans memorial here in downtown Huntsville, and we’re going to be taking route 31 through Pulaski, on to Thompson Station and then into Franklin,” Cain said.
Ted Gallagher said his father was a World War II veteran. After his passing, he wanted to do something in his honor.
That’s when he tracked down a nonprofit and ended up doing his first walk in his father’s honor. Now, he and two other foundation ambassadors are ready to hit the road again.
“I’m fired up, just like anxious to get going, to get started and finish our first day,” he said.
Tom Deshazo is a Huntsville native and former Navy SEAL who just retired last year.
After serving our country for 22 years, he said he’s seen firsthand how the Navy SEAL Foundation helps people, and now it’s his time to return the favor.
“This is a great way for me to give back and help them continue their mission,” he said.
The trip has been in the works for more than ten months, with each stop well thought out.
“We’ve allocated two weeks,” said Cain. “We’re going to be taking a couple days off here and there. But we’re going to, and hopefully we get up there in ten.”
You can follow them along in their journey, as the team said they are posting updates as they make the trek through social media. You can find those updates on their Instagram page @Thesouthern100forseals
The group said they are also grateful for their sponsors.
They said Bankston Motor Homes, Inc. is sponsoring them and donated an RV rental for the team to sleep in throughout the trip.
In addition, they are also receiving support from DripDrop. It is an electrolyte drink packet that will keep them hydrated throughout their journey.
Lastly, LINEAR Clothing Company supplied the team with some gear for the trek. It is a clothing brand that is made and tested by active duty servicemembers, veterans, and first responders.
The team said they hope to make it to Franklin by Sept. 25, where they will have a celebration party.
Their goal is to reach $1.5 million. As of Sunday morning, they had raised $150,000.
The team said 94% of all proceeds donated to the Navy SEAL Foundation go directly to veterans.
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