Army veteran and Lincoln Park native Aaron Bartal will run 150 miles May 26 to 28, from Ludington to Bay City, to honor fallen veterans and those still alive, and to raise money for Victory Gym in Brownstown Township, which provides free memberships to veterans to provide physical activity to help them overcome post-traumatic stress disorder and to provide daily peer support.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspaper
LINCOLN PARK – While others rest this weekend, Army veteran and Lincoln Park native Aaron Bartal will be on the run, crossing the state to honor veterans and raise money for veteran services.
Bartal will run 150 miles in less than 52 hours, from May 26 to 28, in the Veterans Memorial Honor Run. It starts in Ludington and ends in Bay City. He will honor a specific veteran during each mile, and will raise money for the Victory Gym in Brownstown Township, which provides free memberships to veterans and first responders.
Physical exercise helps people conquer post-traumatic stress disorder, and Victory Gym also provides peer support and connectivity on a daily basis.
Bartal already has hit his fundraising goal of $10,000 for the run, and hopes to exceed it. Donations will be accepted through noon May 28 by going to vm150.com to make a donation by credit card or Paypal.
“I am honoring 150 veterans, I’m dedicating a different mile to each veteran, in a run across the state,” Bartal said. “That way their families know that they are not forgotten.”
He has a Facebook page with updates about the project at facebook.com/RunningToHonor. He will also have an updated web page showing his progress during the race, posting live updates, at
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KARG3Ob6ZY2A6nlQd4lQEgz_9O-UC0ksByjM0aUANVo/edit#gid=117209311.
(Sue Suchyta can be reached at [email protected].)