Wounded Veterans Hit the Slopes in Southern Indiana

LAWRENCEBURG, Ind., Feb. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Wounded veterans and their families enjoyed an exhilarating afternoon snow tubing at Perfect North Slopes. The gathering helped create memories and allow injured service members and their families time to bond.

This event is part of the Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) Alumni program which provides support through shared experiences for wounded service members and their families. The WWP Alumni program is one of 20 free programs and services; it offers a wide range of activities and events throughout the year.

Over 80 wounded veterans and their families participated in the snowy adventure. For most it was their first time at the park.

"The day was so warm we didn't have to wear jackets and could still enjoy a beautiful day of snow tubing. This was my first WWP experience with my family," WWP Alumnus, Heather Hirst said. "I've been snow tubing before, but not since being injured in Afghanistan... The best parts of the day were going down the fastest slope and linking up with 25 other people."

Cecil Tuggle, Army Veteran and WWP Alumnus, brought his family. "We've never been there before. I enjoyed meeting new veterans in our area," Cecil said. "We live in rural Kentucky so meeting other veterans is not very common."

Cecil's wife Chastity Tuggle added, "Our favorite was the family hill. All four of us went down together… it was a blast."

Many WWP Alumni face similar challenges and events like this offer Alumni a chance to come together and connect with other wounded veterans and family support members.

"Thanks WWP for another opportunity to meet other wounded service men and women," Cecil said.

National Guard veteran and WWP Alumnus, Jeremie Coppess said, "This was my first time going to a WWP event with my whole family. The fact that I could enjoy this with my family was awesome; it helps bring us a little closer and they also realize it's not just me out there, but other vets who suffer from the same stuff I do," Jeremie said.

WWP is currently serving more than 100,000 wounded service members, their family members, and caregivers free of charge. Most recently, WWP launched Warrior Care Network™, a $100 million investment to battle the invisible wounds of war and reach those who might otherwise go untreated. This is a first-of-its-kind partnership between WWP and four national academic medical centers of excellence including Emory Healthcare, Massachusetts General Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, and UCLA Health to connect thousands of warriors with world-class care.

About Wounded Warrior Project
The mission of Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. WWP's purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.

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SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project