Over the next 10 months, the members of Team Little Guy will be on a biking, running and fundraising journey as we raise $100,000 for Hope for the Warriors. The kickoff ride comes this weekend, as the team participates in the MS Tour to Tanglewood.
While the team kicks off its journey, one of the original team members embarks upon a much longer trip – both in terms of distance traveled and time spent away from home. Tom Heyden, who in addition to working for CUNA Mutual Group serves in the US Army Reserve, deploys to Iraq this weekend for a 400-day rotation.
LTC Heyden will be working with the Iraqi Army through November 2010. It’s the second long deployment, and the first to the Middle East, since the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq broke out in the wake of 9/11.
The entire team wishes Heyden & the Heyden family the best in the next year. As a show of solidarity, Team Little Guy will be wearing blue bracelets with the words, “Lt. Col. Thomas Heyden – 400 Days,” inscribed until he returns home next year.
We’ll also be offering these bracelets for sale to those of you who would like to join us in showing support for Tom.
Even as Tom departs for the Middle East, we’ll be hearing from him from time-to-time. As he is able, he will record audio and video updates that will be posted here on the blog.
Tom took a moment this week to share his thoughts about what Team Little Guy will be raising funds for in the next months, and offers his thanks to all of you for your support of the team and of the US Military. He signed off by saying, “Godspeed.”
Likewise, Tom – Godspeed, stay safe and thank you so much for your sacrifices on behalf of freedom.
September 24, 2009 at 2:43 pm |
Godspeed to you my friend. Thank you so much for your service and sacrifice. I’ll be praying for you. Where can I get one of those wristbands?
September 25, 2009 at 3:51 pm |
Mark – we’ll be announcing how to order wristbands very soon. Thanks so much for the kind words for Tom and for leaving a comment!