Blue Star Families Launches Milkidz Club

Posted on
By DouglasPosted In: MilitaryTagged: , , , ,

Military family nonprofit Blue Star Families recently launched its newest program called Milkidz Club, with help from Onsite Health. The club works to support military children by connecting them, as well as providing mentoring, resources and opportunities to help them grow within their communities.

The inception of MilKidz Club took place at an outdoor event at the Sierra Club’s Celebration of the Military Child in Virginia. The Club aims to "connect military children with the outdoors by helping them enjoy and explore the lands they and their parents sacrifice to protect." The Club's partners include the Sierra Club, Mission Outdoors; Armed Services YMCA; National Military Family Association and Outdoors Alliance for Kids.

"Onsite Health is very excited work with Blue Star Families and their upcoming MilKidz Club launch,” said Onsite Health CEO Ernest A. Blackwelder. "We recognize the difficulties military families have, especially when a parent is deployed. We believe MilKidz Club is a wonderful way to support these amazing families. We look forward to the upcoming launch and hope the families have a great time with it as well!”

“Our military children face many challenges right now,” said Mark Smith of Blue Star Families. “Between moves, school and deployments, military kids really need a chance to get outside, play, and explore. That’s why we’re excited to launch MilKidz Club at this great event, with these military-serving organizations celebrating military children outdoors.”

Ex-Service Amputees Climb Kilimanjaro to Support ‘Pilgrim Bandits’

Posted on
By DouglasPosted In: MilitaryTagged: , , , , ,

John Sandford-Hart and Corporal Ricky Hatten at Kilimanjaro's Peak

On February 23rd, twenty seven men volunteered to climb Mount Kilimanjaro- the highest peak in Africa. And these were no ordinary men- four of them were ex-military and single leg amputees from Pilgrim Bandits.

The volunteers, including Lance Corp. Johno Lee, Corporal Ricky Hatton, Rifleman Chris Parks and former REME John Sandford Hart, not only sponsored their own trip, but raised additional funds for the charity as well. The Pilgrim Bandits Kilimanjaro challenge may have raised up to $15,830, with another similar event planned for later this year.

A charity of the New Forest, Pilgrim Bandits is an organization that aims to finance a number of challenges for amputee service men and women. The challenges encourage the amputees to push both their physical and mental abilities while raising money for additional ex-forces amputees to do the same. The events also promote awareness of the daily struggle amputees must cope with despite their impressive training and remarkable self-discipline.

Rhys Jones, an organizer who followed the expedition, said “Killi is the highest walkable mountain in the world, but it is a tough climb, a real challenge for anyone let alone someone with a prosthetic leg. It’s been a tough week for all involved and a real inspiration.”