Former U.S. Army SPC Lucas Wicks describes the benefits Operation First Response has had on his life as he urges people to participate in the Sept. 26 Walk for the Wounded.
After seven months in a "dark place" following his return from a deployment in Afghanistan, U.S. Army SPC Lucas Wick woke up in the hospital after a suicide attempt.
Wick was released from the hospital in August 2014 and enrolled in Stockton University. But both his spirits and his bank account continued to dwindle.
Wick told a gathering of people in Ocean City on Friday that all of that began to change with a simple gesture: free tickets to the ShopRite LPGA Classic golf tournament for a group of veterans.
The outing had been organized by Operation First Response, a nonprofit organization that began to support Wick in many other ways, emotionally and financially.
"I hope you know it's an honor serving you," Peggy Baker, Operation First Response founder, told Wick at one point.
Wick was on hand Friday for a press conference to kick off the campaign for the 7th annual Walk for the Wounded, a major fundraiser for Operation First Response, which provides financial assistance and other support to wounded soldiers and their families.
Ocean City's Walk for the Wounded has raised more than $400,000 for injured soldiers since 2009.
The event encourages individuals and teams to solicit pledges for donations in the name of those who complete a 3-mile walk on the Ocean City Boardwalk. This year's event is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 with sign-in and a pre-walk program starting at 8:30 a.m.
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To learn more about how to participate, visit
walkforthewounded.org.
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In the six years the event has been held in Ocean City, it has been embraced by the entire community.
St. Joseph's University men's basketball coach Phil Martelli has been a supporter of the Walk for the Wounded since it started seven years ago. He appeared Friday with his grandson, Phillip Steven.
Ocean City Home Bank President Steven Brady first brought the event to Ocean City, and from the start, he enlisted the help of an old college roommate — Phil Martelli, head coach of the St. Joseph's University men's basketball team.
"The heroes here are these young men and women who serve our country and let us walk free on that boardwalk," Martelli said on Friday, pointing toward the beach from the Ocean City Fire Department headquarters, where the press conference was held. "Steve Brady has made it all about them."
Local VFW Post Commander Mike Morrissey and local American Legion Post Commander Bob Marzulli spoke of the great cause and of the ongoing importance of supporting veterans.
Ocean City Fire Department Capt. Steve Constantino, himself a veteran, said he and some colleagues first did the walk five years ago.
"We went up and were blown away," Constantino said.
Since then, he's made an effort to create community-wide awareness of the cause and the event. A sticker campaign raised thousands, $5 at a time. Other events such as a golf tournament raise more money. This year, he's working with Amanda Thomas Marketing to encourage local businesses to donate a small portion of their sales to Operation First Response with window stickers or flyers identifying participating locations.
"We're constantly trying to raise awareness," Constantino said.
Following the news conference on Friday afternoon, Playland's Castaway Cove held a discounted rides wristband event. Last year's event raised $8,000.
Throughout the news conference, all participants talked about what a moving experience it is to participate in the Walk for the Wounded.
"If you've done it before, tell me that you don't leave with tears in your eyes," Martelli said.
St. Joseph's University men's basketball coach Phil Martelli has been a supporter of the Walk for the Wounded since it started seven years ago. He appeared Friday with his grandson, Phillip Steven.
Ocean City Home Bank President Steven Brady first brought the event to Ocean City, and from the start, he enlisted the help of an old college roommate — Phil Martelli, head coach of the St. Joseph's University men's basketball team.
"The heroes here are these young men and women who serve our country and let us walk free on that boardwalk," Martelli said on Friday, pointing toward the beach from the Ocean City Fire Department headquarters, where the press conference was held. "Steve Brady has made it all about them."
Local VFW Post Commander Mike Morrissey and local American Legion Post Commander Bob Marzulli spoke of the great cause and of the ongoing importance of supporting veterans.
Ocean City Fire Department Capt. Steve Constantino, himself a veteran, said he and some colleagues first did the walk five years ago.
"We went up and were blown away," Constantino said.
Since then, he's made an effort to create community-wide awareness of the cause and the event. A sticker campaign raised thousands, $5 at a time. Other events such as a golf tournament raise more money. This year, he's working with Amanda Thomas Marketing to encourage local businesses to donate a small portion of their sales to Operation First Response with window stickers or flyers identifying participating locations.
"We're constantly trying to raise awareness," Constantino said.
Following the news conference on Friday afternoon, Playland's Castaway Cove held a discounted rides wristband event. Last year's event raised $8,000.
Throughout the news conference, all participants talked about what a moving experience it is to participate in the Walk for the Wounded.
"If you've done it before, tell me that you don't leave with tears in your eyes," Martelli said.
