Our local community is home to many veterans, many of whom live with a disability. For the fifth year — Jones-Onslow EMC, in conjunction with one of our financial partners, is searching for disabled veterans from its service territory to nominate for the No Barriers Warriors Expedition Program, a Colorado-based nonprofit organization.
The program, sponsored by Co-Bank, provides expeditions that mentally and physically challenge veterans on outdoor excursions through mountaineering, rafting, and rock climbing. These five-day expeditions offer veterans an opportunity to challenge limitations (both real and perceived) and create a support network that can last a lifetime. Co-Bank covers the total cost for participants, including meals, gear, and travel expenses.
During the summer of 2021, JOEMC was honored to send member Staff Sgt. Jesse Dollar to one of the Expeditions located near Fort Collins, Colorado. During his seven-day expedition, he hiked, rock climbed, repelled, and talked about his experiences and how he was dealing with some of the impacts of being a disabled veteran. Jesse’s experiences will last a lifetime. When asked, Jesse said, “when reading the No Barriers website, I was intrigued, but once I arrived, it was so much more than what I read. The seven-day expedition was both a physical and mental challenge. One of the best parts of the trip is getting to know the others on the expedition who have gone through similar situations during their time of service; it built a family unit.”
His advice to veterans considering applying is, “do it, step out of your comfort zone, and sign-up today.”
For more information, click here or go to the No Barriers website.