What began as a chari idea turned into a journey of a thousand miles to 18 local Marines this fall.
Captain Mark Greenlief, commanding officer of Echo company, weapons training battalion of the East Riding Camp Lejeune, recalls chatting with some of the Marines at Camp Geiger in June: what they can do to serve and support injured Marines?
A staff Sergeant, Jeremiah Johnson, suggested hiking the Appalachian Trail to raise awareness and funds. And while the troops finally decide tracking traces of 2,100-mile along the East Coast is too large, they settled on the business challenges that are nearly as ambitious: the 1,000 mile-to-sea trail, which stretches from the tip of the North Carolina extends to the other. Calling themselves the lucky kids, Marine will use leave them personal to hike a trail in a one-week increments, raised money and creating publicity for Fund Fi Semper nonprofit.
Founded in 2004, Semper Fi Fund provides a wide range of assistance programs and support to Marines and sailors injured post-September 11, 2001.