My name is Bobby Graustein and I am raising money to support the Home Base Foundation; by participating in the 10th Annual Run to Home Base. The Home Base Foundation provides care and support to any veterans returning home from war or that have already returned. Home Base’s biggest mission is to cure the invisible wounds of war. They also provide Wellness and Fitness, and Education and training to veterans returning home with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. PTSD is a form of stress that can cause anxiety and flashbacks, these triggered by a traumatic event that happened while at war.
The Run to Home Base event is held at Fenway Park each year. This is the 10th annual Run To Home Base Fundraiser. All proceeds will go to the Home Base Foundation to support returning Veterans.There are two Run to Home Base events, One taking place in Fort Meyers, Florida and the other taking place at Fenway Park. In previous years I have surpassed $2,500. This year I hope to raise $4,000 in donations.
I Run for my Grandfather, Robert S. Graustein, who I am named after; he was a Lieutenant Commander stationed on the U.S.S. Saratoga. My Dad was only 10 years old when my grandfather was shot down on a night mission named the “Christmas Bombing.” After my grandfather was shot down my Grandmother, Dad, and 2 Uncles moved back to Fryeburg to be closer to family.
Home Base is changing the way we care for veterans when they return home; they may have no visible wounds, but many have invisible wounds. Home Base has little to no cost, this is made possible from so many people opening their hearts and donating to such a great foundation. PTSD is very common in veterans returning from war, with the help of Home Base affected soldiers have another option. Home Base offers Individual, evidenced-based trauma-focused therapy, Group therapy for those recovering from invisible wounds, as well as many more options.
My experience with Run to Home Base has been amazing. This will be my third straight year running in this fundraiser. I am very excited to try as hard as I can to exceed the amount that I raised last year. My first year I ran the 9k and my second I ran the 5k. Each year there has been a theme: my first year doing it they were giving Vietnam Veterans the welcome home they never got, last year was Families of The Fallen. One event they did last year was to bring families who had lost a loved one down onto the field; this touched my family because my grandfather was not the only person who made the commitment. The last two years I was an All-Star Fundraiser which means I raised $2,500 both years. I am hoping to raise that, or more again this year. I am asking for your help to get me to my goal.
Sincerely,
Bobby Graustein
