Craig W. Barrett - Hughesville MD Real Estate

Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, Serving Those Who Preserve Our Freedom

Since September 11, 2001, United States Marines have been on the front line of the War on Terror. Their bravery and dedication have had a price. Many have been wounded, some seriously, and some resulting in lifelong disabilities.

Because of medical advances, Marines are now surviving injuries that were once not survivable in past wars. They face extended hospital stays and months if not years of recovery and rehabilitation.

Few families are prepared to deal with the personal and financial disruption associated with leaving their home, their family, and their job to be with their loved one through long months of hospitalization, rehabilitation and recuperation.

How Do They Help?

The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund provides financial assistance to:

• Marines injured in combat and in training.
  
• Other service members injured while in direct support of Marine units.
  
• Their families.

This assistance is in the form of a grant with no expectation of repayment. Grants may help with immediate financial needs such as travel, childcare, lodging or problems resulting from lost wages. Assistance is also given for long term needs such as modified homes and vans.

What Can You Do?

The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund relies on the generosity of its donors. You can help make a difference for our wounded heroes and their families during one of the most difficult times in their lives. Your support will help provide much needed financial assistance to help cover the expenses incurred when a family drops everything to be at their loved one's side.

Where Does the Money Go?

This is part of a message Team Semper Fi received from the founder and Executive Director of the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund:

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Thanks to the generous support of our donors and our IMSFF team, the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund has had an amazing year! Although we are thankful that the numbers of wounded from Iraq continue to decrease, Fiscal Year 2008 (July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008) was one of our busiest as we continued to help our wounded heroes, not just at the beginning of their recovery, but every step of the way. We are finding that the needs for our programs are only increasing over time, especially as our wounded service members transition back into their communities.

• Since inception, IMSFF has given out approximately 10,000 grants totaling over $25 million
• IMSFF has provided assistance to more than 2500 service members and their families
• During Fiscal Year 2008 alone, IMSFF assisted with over $10 million in grants -Administration and fundraising costs were approximately 7% in Fiscal Year 2008
• Fundraising costs remain around two cents for every dollar raised

I think our work can best be summed up in a note we received from an injured service member's mother. She wrote:

" I just want you all to know how important what you all are doing is to those of us who have received the dreaded phone call. My world stopped on May 1st. The world around me kept turning, but my world stopped. My mortgage was the most unimportant thing to me after hearing my son had been hurt. Thanks to your fund, my world has begun turning again and I have not lost my home, my car, or my mind. I would have given up all of it to be with my son. Your fund kept me from having to make that decision. I am grateful beyond belief."

Thank you for believing in our mission and helping IMSFF make sure that our wounded service members and their families are never alone or forgotten. We truly would not be able to serve our wounded service men and women without your vital support. With all the uncertainty in the financial environment today, your support and help are needed more than ever...

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Marines are Hosting a Marathon on Sunday

As you can see the need is real. Show your support for these wounded hereos by donating today.

My goal is to raise at least $500 and to finish the Marine Corps Marathon in under four hours and thirty minutes on Sunday. Wish me luck and thanks for your support!

Thank you runners, sponsors, volunteers, Charles County Sheriff's Office, local businesses, moms, dads, kids and community members for a successful first running of the Hughesville 10k, 5k and 1k Kids Fun Run! Of course we ran into a few problems, but overall, we are very pleased with the outcome of the first race.

It was a successful day! We collected 812lbs of non-perishable canned, boxed and dry goods and $50 in cash donations for the Southern Maryland Food Bank during the Inaugural Hughesville 10k Festival! We also raised $1,000 to be donated to the Hughesville Baseball Association and another $1,000 to be donated to the Hughesville Volunteer Fire Department.

Thanks to all! Great job everyone!

Results will be posted online soon. We hope you all had a great time and we'll see you next year.

Craig Barrett, Hughesville 10k Festival Race Director

The Southern Maryland Food Bank needs your donations. They had to close their doors on Monday October 13 and has had to do so every other Monday since May due to a lack of food to distribute to the community. The Hughesville Running Club is sponsoring the Hughesville 10k Festival, tomorrow October 18. We are collecting non-perishable canned, boxed, and dry goods to be donated to the Southern Maryland Food Bank.

If you can't make the Hughesville 10k Festival, the Charles County Commissioners and the County Administrator have launched a food drive. Beginning today at noon October 17, the Media Relations Office will be traveling to each of the County Government Buildings to pickup any of the food that is collected. You may drop off any non-perishable canned, boxed, and dry goods at any Charles County Government Building.

The tough economic times and recent natural disasters have been life-altering for many in communities around the United States. Even if you don't live in the Hughesville or Charles County area, please take a few moments to support your local food bank by donating non-perishable canned, boxed, and dry goods, or by donating your time or money. To find a local food bank near you, go to Feeding America's website.

Plan to attend the Hughesville 10k Festival, October 18, 2008, presented by the Hughesville Running Club, a Road Runners Club of America affiliated, 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. We will have a 10k/5k and a kids 1k fun run. The kids fun run starts at 8:15am and the 10k/5k starts at 8:30am or immediately after the kids run. During the races and awards ceremony local radio personality Frank Dawson from WKIK 102.9 FM will broadcast live 9-12pm and The Wanderers, a local band, performs live from 12-3pm.

After the awards ceremony, the festival will kick into high gear. The cost of admission to the festival is a non-perishable, canned good to be donated to the Southern Maryland Food Bank. Supplies at the Food Bank are low, so now is a good time to contribute.

The purpose of the event is to raise awareness of the Hughesville Revitalization Plan, showcase Hughesville businesses, and have county planning staff and small business development representatives on hand to discuss development and infill possibilities within the village core. We'll have local businesses, crafters, artists, produce, Charles County planning staff and Commissioners, Maryland Delegates and special guests. Vendor and sponsor opportunities are available and can be requested by clicking here.

This will be a great opportunity to bring the community together for a day to meet and enjoy the day with fellow neighbors and businesses. Any proceeds from the event will be donated to the Hughesville Volunteer Fire Department and the Hughesville Baseball Association. The Hughesville Fire Department is also having their Open House on October 18th. We may see a Maryland State Police Helicopter!

There are two ways to register for the races. You can register and pay online at active.com (please note active.com has a processing fee) or offline by downloading and mailing in the registration form and payment. Each participant, regardless of the event selected, must complete a registration form and sign the waiver.

Click here to register and pay online.

Click here to download the registration form to mail-in form and payment.

Please note there is no online registration for the Kids Fun Run. You must download and mail in registration form.

Water stops and first aid stations are roughly every 2 miles or so. The 5k turn around is just past the entrance to Lake Jameson subdivision. The 10k turn around is just before Oliver's Shop Rd. Both routes are an out and back are scenic, rural and mostly flat. I've marked the course mileage and turn arounds. We'll have lots of course marshals and police to direct you. If you are running in the Marine Corps Marathon on the 26th, the 10k would be a good last minute tune-up.

I talked to Pat Kennedy yesterday morning, I think she's still planning on handing out water at one of the water stops. I left messages for Brian Block and Cindy Jones, inviting them to attend, volunteer, run or just hang out!

Plan to come! We're looking forward to seeing you!

*Note the distance is in kilometers.*

RE/MAX 100 is a proud sponsor of the Inaugural Hughesville 10K Festival.

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