Semper Fi Fund Helps Amputee Surf Again

Wounded Marines Will Hit The Waves For Surf Lessons at Camp Pendleton
Oceanside-Camp Pendleton, CA
By MIRNA ALFONSO (Patch Staff)
March 16, 2016

When Voltin was injured, he was immediately flown to San Antonio for recovery; and a Semper Fi Fund case manager was already there by his bedside when his 7-months-pregnant wife Pam and two daughters arrived to meet him.

CAMP PENDLETON, CA - In 2007, Ryan Voltin, a Marine Cobra helicopter pilot, was badly injured while deployed to Iraq, suffering severe burns and losing his left leg below the knee.

This weekend, he will be surfing, as part of a Semper Fi Fund event at San Onofre State Beach.

Voltin will be part of a group of 25 injured veterans of Team Semper Fi (TSF) that will hit the beach for the Surf Camp - Semper Fi Fund , where he will hone his water skills and learn from the pros at Waves of Impact.

The event will cover three days and the surfers will learn more than just carving the waves and walking the board.
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Wounded Marine Finishes Ride From San Diego to Iwo Jima on Hand Bike

Wounded Marine finishes ride across America
WUSA
Garrett W Haake
August 2, 2015

Toran Gaal finishes his cross country bike ride (Photo: WUSA9)

ARLINGTON, Va. (WUSA9) -- A wounded Marine is getting some much-needed rest after a 63-day journey across America.

Toran Gaal set out from San Diego on a hand bike back in June and crossed the finish line at the Iwo Jima memorial Sunday morning.

Four years ago Gaal lost both of his legs to an IED in Afghanistan. He awoke two months later and began a very long journey and finished it with cheers and hugs from those who fought beside him in Afghanistan and back home.

"There's no words that you could even put in place to explain how proud anyone could be of Gaal right now," Rian Martinez, who served alongside Gaal in Afghanistan.

Back in June, Gaal set out across the country on his handbike- covering just a few miles an hour. He rode in daylight and darkness, across the plains of Kansas, and through Rocky mountain passes, traveling 3,800 miles on his journey.

The goal was to raise $40,000 dollars over the journey for the Semper Fi fund, the same organization that helped him get through his painful recovery.
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Marine Broke Record But Didn't Walk The Plank

Former Marine Officer Breaks World Record Plank to Benefit Semper Fi Fund 
NBC San Diego
By Monica Garske
May 30, 2015

George Hood, 57, spent a total of five hours, 15 minutes and 15 seconds in the abdominal plank position on Saturday in Oceanside

A former U.S. Marine officer from Carlsbad, just north of San Diego, crushed the world record for the longest plank Saturday, raising money and awareness for wounded warriors in the process.

Former Marine officer and retired Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent George Hood, 57, spent a total of five hours, 15 minutes and 15 seconds in the abdominal plank position at the Junior Seau Amphitheatre in Oceanside as he broke the Guinness World Record previously set at four hours and 26 minutes by Mao Weidong of Beijing, China, last September.

Before Weidong took the title, Hood held the planking record at four hours and one minute, which he set in June 2014.

The athlete and fitness professional’s planking feat – dubbed “The People’s Plank” – doubled as a fundraiser to benefit the Semper Fi Fund for injured U.S. service members, a charity that’s near and dear to Hood’s heart.
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Veteran's PTSD Cross-country Horseback Trip Change His Own Life Too

Vet Crosses Country on Horseback for PTSD Awareness
NBC San Diego
By Liberty Zabala
December 1, 2014

A Marine Corps veteran has come home to Camp Pendleton in San Diego County, California, after traveling across the country entirely on horseback.

Matt Littrell is riding to raise awareness for veterans dealing with mental, emotional and physical pain. Bronze Stars, Navy Cross Awarded for Bravery in Afghanistan.

After two combat tours in Iraq, coming home was one of the darkest parts of Littrell’s journey — until he got on his horse to ride 2,600 miles to fight for his brothers in arms going through the same thing.

“One step at a time. One mile at a time. It’s a journey you’ll take and you’ll find it,” Littrell said.

As this part of his journey ends, a new one begins.

“We actually got engaged on the trail, and we do plan to get married when we get home,” said Littrell’s fiancé Kristen Fuhrmann. “I fell in love with the honesty and the person.”

Every mile along the way, he’ll keep fighting.

“I told these guys we’d ride for them and we will and we did,” Littrell said.

So far, he has raised $82,000 for the Semper Fi Fund.
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A Marine Corps veteran has come to Camp Pendleton after traveling across the country on horseback to raise awareness for veterans dealing with physical and emotional pain. NBC 7's Liberty Zabala reports on Nov. 30, 2014. (Published Monday, Dec 1, 2014)

Saddle Stolen from Iraq Veteran Riding for Semper Fi Fund

UPDATE
Veteran back on track following saddle theft

Matt Littrell, forward, and Raymond C. Avery are riding across the country to benefit veterans in need. (Photo: 12 News)

Saddle stolen from veteran on charity ride
12 News | azcentral.com
Stephen Root
October 22, 2014

He's riding across the country on horseback to raise money for injured vets, but thieves have made the trip less comfortable

Marine and Iraq war veteran Matt Littrell says he once considered taking his own life but chose to live. Now he's trying to help other vets by traveling across the country on horseback to raise money and awareness for vets dealing with depression.

Last night, while he was staying in Payson, somebody stole his saddle.

Littrell and two riding partners have been raising money for the Semper Fi Fund, a nonprofit which provides assistance for injured and ill veterans.
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Semper-Fi Fund has veteran Marine rider

Veteran Marine rides horse across country for wounded warriors
KPHO News
By: Kaitlin Stansell
Updated: May 02, 2014

SURF CITY, NC
It was a bitter sweet send off for a veteran marine in Surf City Thursday as he began a long journey across the country.

"Sit tall in the saddle," Matt Littrell's father said as he hugged his son goodbye.

The 32-year-old then hopped onto the back of his BLM mustang named "Crow," clicking to the horse to step into the Atlantic Ocean.

It was a symbolic start to what Littrell expects to be a 6 to 8 month trip from Camp Lejeune, NC, to Camp Pendleton, CA.

The duo will be traveling along with close his friend, Raymond Avery, and two other horses.

It's all an effort to raise support and about $7 million for wounded warriors through the Semper Fi Fund, a journey that some people call crazy.

"Of course it's crazy. It should be. They deserve crazy, so we're going to be crazy for them," Littrell said.

He believes this is just the kind of attention wounded veterans need work through their toughest moments.
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Double amputee Marine on 5,400 mile bike ride for charity

Double amputee Marine makes pit stop in Conshohocken on 5,400 mile bike ride for charity
The Times Herald
By Carl Rotenberg
POSTED: 11/08/13

CONSHOHOCKEN — Rob Jones, a double amputee U.S. Marine, bicycled from New Hope, Bucks County, to Conshohocken on Friday as part of his 5,400 mile journey across the United States to raise money for U.S. veterans.

While the hills of Whitemarsh appeared to slow his progress on the 30-mile trek, he arrived in Conshohocken at 3:30 p.m. on Washington Street in good spirits. The Residence Inn Marriott donated a room for the night and an area restaurant had made plans to feed Jones and his brother, Steve.

His goal is to raise $1 million for charities that include the Semper Fi Fund, Ride2Recovery and the Coalition to Salute America’s Heros, according to a press release.

Since losing both legs in an explosion in Afghanistan three years ago from an improvised explosive device, Jones has received a Purple Heart and was honorably discharged in 2011. Jones competed in the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London and brought home a Bronze medal in double skulls rowing.

While recovering from his war wounds, Jones learned for the second time how to ride on an upright bicycle using prosthetic legs built by Zach Harvey, his prosthetist, Brian Bartlett of Left Side Industries and Ray Clark of Ride to Recovery. Bartlett invented Jones’s prosthetic right leg. Clark helped Jones learn how to ride the 24-speed bicycle.

Jones’ prosthetic legs have cleats that attach them to the clipless pedals.
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Marine Spouse of the year raised over a million dollars for Semper Fi Fund

Marine wife raises $101M to support troops
CBS News
July 4, 2013


Karen Guenther, named the 2013 Marine Military Spouse of the Year, and her husband, Col. Glenn Guenther, speaks to the "CBS This Morning" co-hosts about founding the Semper Fi Fund, which has provided millions to troops and families in need.

Joe Vitt volunteering at Walter Reed during suspension

Joe Vitt to assist wounded soldiers during suspension
By Kareem Copeland
Around the League Writer
Published: Sept. 21, 2012

Joe Vitt has found a productive way to serve his six-week suspension for his involvement in the New Orleans Saints' "bounty" scandal: He'll move to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., to live and assist wounded soldiers through the Semper Fi Fund program.

"If I can't be around my players, maybe I can be around these 'wounded warriors,' and help them with their rehab," the Saints' assistant coach told NOLA.com. "I'm extremely fired up about this. I'm going to leave my cell phone at home, I'm going to check into Walter Reed Hospital, and I'm going to stay as long as they want me.

"I'm fired up about that opportunity to help these guys. And I hope at the end of the day, I'm of some use to them."
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2,000 Marines make Pensacola streets echo "Oorah!" for charity

Marines make Pensacola streets echo "Oorah!" for charity
Sep 15, 2012
Written by
Rob Johnson

The Marine Corps, 2,000 strong, ran and cheered through downtown streets, accompanied by more than 1,000 civilians, in a traditional charity fundraising event.
The Marine Corps., about 2,000 strong, stormed through downtown Pensacola Saturday morning on a spirited but peaceful mission that helped raise about $25,000 for several charities.

Also participating in the 29th annual Semper Fi Charity Run were nearly 1,100 civilians, ranging from serious runners to casual walkers, some of whom pushed baby carriages.

Marine Col. Robert Sherrill, senior officer at the event, said, “It’s a small token of thanks back to the city, which is so warm to the military personnel stationed here. For us it’s a great bonding time.”

Funds were raised through individual registrations and sizable donations from several businesses, including $5,000 from McGuire’s Irish Pub, $5,000 from Pen Air Federal Credit Union and $1,000 from Navy Federal Credit Union, according to a event supervisor.
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The Semper Fi Fund needs your help

Ask yourself a question. If the charities that get all the PR were doing what they claim, then why would there need to have been a fund like Semper Fi? One of the reasons why Wounded Times tries to give as much publicity as it can to charities, is, they don't spend their money on advertising. They spend it where it can really help the wounded and families in need. Semper Fi is one of the groups in need and doing great work.

The Semper Fi Fund needs your help
August 20, 2012
By GAIL CHATFIELD
North County Times

No doubt the first thing Billy Osterman did when he got to the Santa Monica Pier on Aug. 3 was jump in the cool Pacific Ocean. Over the previous 45 days, the 16 year-old Fallbrook High School student rode his bicycle 2,500 miles through seven states from Tybee Island, Ga.

As part of the "American Challenge" bike tour, Billy raised $3,000 for the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.

One week later, four recumbent-tricycle riders arrived at Camp Pendleton after a similar coast-to-coast ride from St. Augustine, Fla.

The "Ride for Heroes" tricycle team included three Marines, one a double-amputee Afghanistan veteran. Lance Cpl. Ben Maenza, a combat engineer with 3rd Battalion 5th Marines, lost his legs to an IED two years ago.

Like Billy, the men rode cross-country to raise awareness and money for the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. The team received donations both large and small, including a jar of 307 pennies from a little girl in Texas. By the time they reached Camp Pendleton, the team had raised $93,000.
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