Mike Skinner Drives To Share Hope In London, England

By: Mike and Angie Skinner, 

Mike Skinner at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in London, England 

At some point or another, everyone faces transitions in their lives. Whether it’s a service member transitioning into the civilian sector, or a person transitioning to life after injury, or a professional athlete, like me, transitioning into retirement, everyone will eventually face a period of uncertain changes. Transitioning from one life situation to another sounds easy.  It would appear that you just adapt, find your new normal, and move on.  In reality, it’s actually really hard. The new ‘normal’ is just that—new. The normal that you’re used to likely won’t exist again, and that’s hard.  It’s very challenging mentally, and it can be difficult on the front side to find out what the new normal entails and trust that everything will eventually seem ‘normal’ again.

For years, I was blessed to be a NASCAR driver. I was the quarterback, the rock star, the guy that everyone circled around because I was the nucleus of our little cell. Then I retired. I didn’t feel significant anymore. There were days where I didn’t feel needed; I didn’t feel like I meant anything, like I didn’t mean anything to my sport anymore. Those thoughts and feelings can be very, very hard to get through. However, once you start working yourself through that, it’s amazing how great life really is.

I think our service members go through very similar situations. They’re young men and women who get yanked out of their normal life situation, and all of a sudden they’re in Iraq or Afghanistan and they have a gun in their hand or they’re riding in a tank somewhere, and they’re supporting our cause back home. They’re the reason that we’re able to have things like NASCAR, and the NFL, and so many other great things that we have in America. They’re our rock stars. However, then all of a sudden they get blown up, or they get shot, or they somehow get hurt while doing their job. They come home, but their world is completely torn apart. They don’t feel significant anymore; they don’t feel like they have their nucleus around them because they’re not in their element anymore.

I ran my first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in 1986, but I raced for years and years before then. I ran late models, dirt cars, modifieds—all different kinds of racecars. I had to run all kinds of stuff to get to that point, but I love racing. I love cars. I love our sport, and I really enjoy being a part of it. When I stepped back from driving after nearly 40 years, I struggled to find ways to keep what I loved a part of my life. I had to find ways to take the skills I still had, and find different ways to apply them.

I know a lot about racecars. I’ve built engines, I’ve put bodies on cars, I’ve won races and I’ve won championships. I know the ropes. More importantly, I know how to talk about all the technical aspects of racing in basic, simple English that normal people can understand. As a driver, it’s something that you have to do every day when you’re talking with fans or to your sponsors. Likewise, my wife Angie is also great at talking to people; she’s a very talented radio host. SiriusXM NASCAR Radio realized that if they put us together we make a pretty good team, and now we have a radio show that airs 22-25 weekends a year called Skinner Round-Up. It keeps me involved in the top levels of NASCAR racing just enough where I can still give something back to the fans.

Racing is still one of the things that I enjoy most, and I think one of the things that has helped me find balance in my life has been finding another way to use those skills that I worked on for so many years. I’m not able to race at NASCAR’s top levels any more, so I’ve had to adapt. Fortunately, I met a guy by the name of Andrew Franzone and I’ve been able to partner with him on a Vintage Racing program. We’ve been to the Goodwood Festival of Speed, one of the top vintage racing events in the world, for each of the last three years. We’ve set records and broke our own records, and we’re doing some really cool stuff over there. It’s not the same as going out and racing at Daytona by any means, but it’s enough. It helps satisfy my appetite, and it gives me an opportunity to say, “Hey, I can still do this.”

Recently, I played golf with Richard Childress, who is a very close personal friend of mine that used to be my team owner. While we were golfing, I explained that three years after my retirement I’ve finally become the best racecar driver that I’ve been at any point in my career. I explained that I finally get it; I finally understand the whole picture of our sport. The problem is that I’m too old to do anything about it. However, I’m not too old to give that knowledge to somebody else—someone that may still have the opportunity to use it. Just last year, my sons and I formed Racecar Solutions, which is a business that helps develop young racing talent, as well as people who just enjoy racing as their hobby. We help move them along; help train them and move them to that next level. They may not be the next Jeff Gordon, but they can go out, have some fun, and hopefully fulfill some of their personal dreams. Likewise, I get to fulfill some of my personal goals while working with my boys, and helping advance our sport as a whole.

Finally being able to have the time to really give back to others has been one of the best things about my retirement. I met Robin Kelleher, CEO & President of Hope For The Warriors and Travis Hanson, Senior Director of Sports & Recreation for Hope For The Warriors a couple years ago—right as I was going through that transition into my retirement. I was feeling pretty beat down, but then they invited me to the Scarlet & Gold Invitational and I was able to spend time with a couple service members, and I realized that my problems aren’t even on the same scale as some of these young men and women. I realized that what they do is 100 times more important than what I did as a NASCAR driver. I realized that I was feeling sorry for myself because I got too old to do what I used to do, but in reality, I had a successful 40-year career.  Some of these service members are just getting their lives started when things get turned upside down and their whole world is messed up.

 

I really admire Hope For The Warriors and praise what they’re doing. The government doesn’t have programs that fit everybody’s needs.  The government isn’t in a position where they’re able to help all these young men and women—they don’t have the resources. However, Hope For The Warriors does. They get connected with these service members who have special needs, and they help get them back on their feet. If they have PTSD, or they lost an arm, or they can’t do the things that they did before, Hope For The Warriors steps in and gets them internships, helps them find a way to shift their life to something new, gets them to somewhere that will allow them to have a 20-30 year career and allow them to have a somewhat normal life—or as normal as their ‘new normal’ can be.

Getting involved with Hope For The Warriors has been an incredible experience for me. This year, I was able to race with their logo over my heart during the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and that just meant so much to me. Being able to keep our service members not only on my mind, but on the mind of our whole team was extraordinary. Andrew Franzone is the guy who helps make participating in the Goodwood Festival of Speed possible for us; he has a fund in New York that he both manages and owns. He brings about 75 of his top clients and business associates to the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and a lot of these people are successful business owners, money managers, and business men and women. To have both Robin [Kelleher] and Travis [Hanson] there, where we could make introductions and help them start building relationships where maybe we can get more people supporting Hope For The Warriors means a lot to me. It’s my little contribution where hopefully I’m able to help a wounded service member somewhere, or help the surviving family that’s left behind. We’re trying to give something back to those people who give so much and sacrifice so much for us.

Service Members Receive Trip to 2016 Buckmasters Life Hunt

Group at the 2015 Life Hunt

In January 2015, Hope For The Warriors® had the opportunity to send service members and staff to a Buckmasters Life Hunt. The Buckmasters Life Hunt allows disabled children and wounded service members to hunt while enjoying nature and friendship. Buckmasters is dedicated to aiding members of the outdoor community by making the sport of hunting accessible to a disabled hunter, thanking our military heroes, and more. Life Hunts facilitate hope and play a role in the recovery process of some extraordinary hunters. This three-day hunt, which takes place in the peak of Alabama deer rut season, also serves as a time of camaraderie and resiliency for many service members.

Jeff Holland, David William, Jackie Bushman, and Michael Demmer at the Expo. (From L to R)   

In August 2015, Buckmasters held The Buckmasters Expo in Montgomery, Alabama, which showcases various vendors in the hunting and fishing community. Buckmasters invited the service members who attended last year’s Life Hunt, two new service members, and their families to all attend the expo. Jackie Bushman, founder and CEO of Buckmasters, brought all of the service members on stage before a Diamond Rio Concert at the Expo and thanked them for their service. One of the returning service members was Jeff Holland, Sergeant First Class, USA, 7^th Special Forces Group, who was awarded his mount, one of the largest bucks harvested on the hunt. The other two service members, David William GYSGT, USMC Retired, scout sniper with 1st Marine Division, and Michael Demmer, Sergeant, USA, Calvary Scout, were brought on stage and given a letter to read, unbeknownst that the letter contained an incredible surprise for them both.

Group at the Expo with their families 

The letter was an invitation to the 2016 Life Hunt—all expenses paid. The group was truly surprised and beyond grateful for this opportunity. The Expo allowed the service members to connect in advance with some of the Buckmasters Staff, who never forget a face and truly care for military families and the disabled children they take on the Life Hunts. Jackie Bushman values the importance of the Life Hunt every year, stating, "To be able to see the smiles on their faces and their parents faces, it's just priceless to me."

Hope For The Warriors® is grateful to have this unique partnership with Buckmasters, and is looking forward to a great hunt in 2016. To help give more service members the opportunity to participate in events like the Buckmasters Life Hunt please consider becoming a supporter of Hope For The Warriors®. 

Setting Personal and Family Goals as a Caregiver

Written by Jennifer Mackinday

We had a plan. There was always a plan during my brother’s recovery after suffering a Traumatic Brain Injury during combat operations in Iraq. We made appointments, scheduled testing, and kept a record of daily progress toward the physical improvements carefully set forth by our medical care team.

A plan for improvement is a must.  Our care plan, like most, focused on physical goals. Walking, talking, eating, and toileting – these are all common goals established in health care plans for patients who suffer severe TBI. If there is no plan, there is no direction on how to proceed. 

Jennifer's family, from left: Son Grant, Brother James, Jennifer, and Jennifer's husband, Rob 

Without a plan, there is often minimal progress. But we found ourselves, like many military families, without a care plan that included goals for improving my brother’s quality of life. There are so many stages of recovery that it can be easy to focus on short-term physical recovery and forget to plan for the crucial question your veteran will face:

“What do I do with my life now?”

The thing about plans is that if you don’t make them for yourself, then what real incentive is there to achieve them? After your veteran returns home, you have to make critical decisions and set achievable plans to maximize improvement and quality of life. Without a consistent plan to implement strategies for improvement, how can a recovering military family expect results?

American author Henry David Thoreau wrote, “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.”

James and Jennifer

Our family decided that the clear path to recovery must include goal setting, then the hard work. After nearly a decade of focusing on physical recovery, our family’s objectives had clearly changed. As my brother’s primary caregiver, I had become centered on his needs and support. Meanwhile, my husband and son excelled at self-sufficiency. For us, the first goal was clear. Each of us needed to set achievable individual goals, and our family needed a common goal of improved quality of life with a focus on family-centered activities.

To maximize the benefit of goal setting, our family got specific. We couldn’t just set a goal of improving our quality of life. We needed to be SMART. That’s a fancy mnemonic acronym for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound goal setting. Spending the best part of my career in marketing, I had heard about SMART from numerous bosses, leadership seminars, and motivational speakers. But it wasn’t until NOT having goals in my life that I truly learned the reason for purposeful goal setting.

Improvement will only come if your plan involves conviction. You have to be dedicated to spending time working toward the goal and tracking your progress in order to succeed.  Self-accountability provides motivation to continue the effort!

So how are we doing achieving our goals as a family? Well, my brother enrolled in an equine therapy program that challenges his communication, problem-solving, and relationship skills. He’s focused on building confidence and strength through the development of patience and faithfulness--the center of equine activities. My son enlisted in the Marine Corps, and is learning that personal goal setting is a lot like mission planning in the military. My husband has rekindled his interest in all things landscaping, and is spending a lot more time outdoors, where he’s learned is the best place to realize how small your problems are.

James (L) and Grant (R) on the day Grant graduated from Boot Camp

For me, setting personal goals is tough. I’ve spent a huge part of my life taking care of others. When I read that statement, it’s perfectly clear that the best goal for me to set is one that only I can reach, that only I can control. As one of my favorite writers Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” My goals have to be attainable, and in the SMART way of doing things, they also have to be measurable, relevant and timely.

Therefore, I’ve decided to run the Marine Corps 10k in Washington D.C. on my birthday. In honor of all the service members and their families who’ve sacrificed so much for our dear country, and in salute to my own precious son who joined the Marine Corps, fully knowing the consequences. But I’m also running for me. Each one of the steps I take training for those 6.2 miles this October 25^th reminds me that I can do anything. I achieve any goal that I set for myself as long as it’s Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

And I didn’t learn that from a former supervisor, or a motivational speaker, I learned that from my caregiving. Deep inside of me I have the strength that’s to be rivaled, and if I believe in my goals, I can accomplish anything.

A Warrior's Wish Grants Retired Army Veteran a Bass Pro Fishing Boat

Written By: Chrystal Thompson Keilers Staff Sgt. Floyd Peters, USA (Ret.), along with his wife and five children, applied to A Warrior’s Wish® for a bass boat to take his family and fellow veterans fishing in the lakes surrounding his home in Jasper, Texas. After a combined 23 years serving our country in the active duty Marine Corps, Army Reserves, and active duty Army, he is now medically retired from the military and has been diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder with comorbid depressive disorder. Hope For The Warriors® granted Floyd's Wish for a Bass Pro 160 Tracker fishing boat so he could share his recovery process with fellow veterans, friends, and family.  Bass Pro Shops Managers, SSG Floyd Peters, USA (Ret.), and his family  with Hope For The Warriors Staff member Chrystal Chrystal and James, Hope For The Warriors® staff members, attended the a Memorial Day celebration in honor of the local Texas Army veteran and his family. Bass Pro Shops® hosted the celebration as a way to thank Hope For The Warriors® for working with them to purchase and grant this Wish. The local high school's JROTC and Honor Guard led the ceremony which was attended by community members, local American Legion and VFW members, and the store associates, who were dressed up in patriotic Bass Pro t-shirts! Floyd shared that he is "truly honored for all of Hope For The Warriors® and what the organization has done for him and his family". They are heading out to Louisiana this weekend for an annual family camping trip with their boat in tow. The Bass Pro Shop® Managers sent Floyd and his family home with a gift card to purchase life jackets, poles, and other accessories! This Wish was sponsored by our New York-based supporters, Michael Nehlsen and Jeff Molesko, and their Riding for Warriors fundraising campaign! Thank you James, Jenn, Ashley & Anne for your support in making this Wish presentation possible! A Warrior's Wish® honors the goals and desires of severely wounded service members, veterans, and their families. Wishes fulfill a desire for a better quality of life or support a quest for life-gratifying endeavors for post-9/11 service members, their families, and families of the fallen who have sustained physical and psychological wounds in the line of duty. If you would like to be considered for a 2016 Wish, apply today by registering through our secure, private online registration system.

Team Hope For The Warriors: August

Team Hope For The Warriors® has bibs for the SOLD OUT Army Ten-Miler and Marine Corps Marathon 10K. Consider running with the team that seeks to restore Hope to military families or let your friends and family know about Team Hope For The Warriors® bibs!  

Below are the confirmed dates and races for 2015

October 11, 2015 – Army Ten Miler*

Register

October 25, 2015 – Marine Corps Marathon 10K

Register

October 25, 2015 – Marine Corps Marathon*

Register

November 1, 2015 – TCS NYC Marathon

Register

*Handcycle friendly race

Fundraising Tip:

Thank your supporters after they donate towards your fundraising efforts. Letting supporters know that you appreciate their support can go a long way in building a strong donor base. This will help when you want to contact the supporter again for next year’s race or for another race. Try to use a medium that you feel the donor would most appreciate. Some people like to receive a hand-written notes or letters, for others, an email thank you will suffice. Know your supporters and remember to show them you appreciate their efforts to support you!

Training Tip:

Check out this article in Runner’s World for some great tips on a successful Marathon.

Team Member Corner: Brad McNamara

Team Member Brad McNamara enlisted in the Army at the age of 29 and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division as an Infantry Paratrooper. His military career has been his proudest accomplishment in his life so far. ‪Brad has always been an athlete, so combining his athletic pursuits with support for service men and women made Team Hope For The Warriors a great fit for Brad.

In the mid-1990s, Brad competed in NCAA Division III Athletics playing both lacrosse and volleyball. He has also coached high school and college lacrosse. Currently, Brad continues to play lacrosse and was recently named the 2015 Long Island Shootout For Soldiers Man of the Game. Brad has been involved with the Long Island Run For The Warriors® and other Hope For The Warriors® programs since 2009. 

“Hope For The Warriors® Sports and Recreation platforms have opened up endless opportunities [for me] to meet and connect with various communities,” said Brad. “These encounters have allowed me to engage other service members and their families who may have needed to hear things from the soldier's perspective, from my perspective.”    

Program Information:

Educated Running Sessions:

Attention NYC Team Members, we will be holding FREE Educated Running sessions at JackRabbit Upper West Side, 140 W 72nd St New York, at 6:30 PM on the following dates:

• Tuesday, August 25
• Tuesday, September 1
• Tuesday, September 8 

The sessions will cover warming-up and cooling down, speed work basics, and race day preparation. They are a great way to keep yourself inspired for your training.

Team Gear:

As a member of our Team, you can save 10% on all online store items. As you train, be sure to proudly wear the Hope For The Warriors® logo so that people know the reason for your hard work. Visit www.hopeforthewarriors.org/store and use the discount code TEAMH4W.

Charity Navigator:

For the fourth year in a row, Hope For The Warriors® has received a four-star rating on Charity Navigator. This exceptional rating, achieved by only 8% of the nonprofits they evaluate, highlights Hope For The Warriors® financial responsibility to the service members, military families, and families of the fallen we support. Team members can continue to ask people to donate towards fundraising goals with confidence! We invite you to view their latest evaluation of our efforts on the Charity Navigator website.

A Warrior’s Wish®:

This year, Hope For The Warriors® will grant 11 wishes to support service members, veterans, and military families. The nature of these Wishes will vary in scope from business, fitness, financial, and outdoor-related. The enrichment process will continue long after the Wish is granted to promote stability within the lives of these heroes and their families. As the Wishes are granted we will share the stories in the upcoming newsletters. Learn more about A Warriors Wish®

For more information please contact Steve Barto at sbarto@hopeforthewarriors.org.

Port Jefferson Dragon Boat Race Festival:

Hope For The Warriors® will have a team in the 2^nd Annual Dragon Boat Race Festival at the harbor of Port Jefferson Village, NY on Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 9 A.M. Please visit http://portjeffdragonracefest.com for more information or contact Jennifer Friedel at jfriedel@hopeforthewarriors.org if you are interested in participating with Hope For The Warriors®. 

Rock ‘n’ Roll Series:

The Rock ‘n’ Roll race series has teamed up with everydayhero as their official fundraising platform. You can now run in any Rock ‘n’ Roll event and raise funds for Hope For The Warriors! Beginning March 1^st, every race participant will be asked if they want to fundraise on behalf of their favorite cause during the race registration process. When you register and are asked to choose your charity, pick Hope For The Warriors® and you will automatically be given a Rock ‘n’ Roll everydayhero fundraising page!  

USA Track & Field (USATF):

Hope For The Warriors® is now a USATF Organization and if you are also a USATF member you can now run for Hope For The Warriors® as an organization! Furthermore, you can compete in the USATF championships. For more information please contact Steve Barto at sbarto@hopeforthewarriors.org.

Run For The Warriors®:

Registration is now open for the following Run For The Warriors® events:

• 6th Annual Sunset Run For The Warriors® Register
• 5th Annual Harmon Meadow Run For The Warriors® Register
• 2^nd Annual DMV Run For The Warriors® Register
• ASA Sponsored Run For The Warriors® Register
• 8^th Annual Long Island Run For The Warriors® Register

For the complete list of races visit www.runforthewarriors.org.

Representing the Team:

Be sure to shoot us an email with your race schedule and where you will be wearing your Team jersey. Each time you wear your jersey, you help our mission to restore self, family, and hope. Feel free to share photos and special stories too!

mholton@hopeforthewarriors.org

sbarto@hopeforthewarriors.org

Important Links For Social Media:

Hope For The Warriors®Facebook

Twitter When you tweet be sure to use #TeamH4W

NYCHalf Marathon Team Facebook Group

NYC Full Marathon Team Facebook Group

MarineCorps Marathon Team Facebook Group 

Military Caregivers: Less Clutter Equals Less Stress

Amanda, from the Hope For The Warriors Caregiver Group and I had a canted conversation on Hope For The Warriors Talk Radio about how wonderful it feels when you spend a little time each day sprucing up your life and your home. It is important for military caregivers to be organized and clutter free. Many caregivers take care of military veterans who have been diagnosed with the signature wounds of war; Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 

Sometimes it's hard for those with TBI and PTSD to stay organized and even harder for them to find things after they put them down someplace. Caregivers play a crucial role when it comes to keeping the home organized, clean and safe. During the radio show, we talked about reasons caregivers fall behind on housework and how easy it can be to declutter and thrive in your home. 

Brittney Biddle, from the Hope For The Warriors Facebook Caregiver Group shared a tip that she uses a Thirty-One Hang Up home organizer in her office, her children's bedrooms and even has one hanging on her laundry room door. 

Kim is another caregiver in our group, she said she uses a dry erase board to post notes to her veteran every day before she leaves for work. Megan uses this neat chalk board calendar.

The most important tip I have for caregivers is to be well structured and organized. This will help you in every day life. I'd like to encourage everyone to listen to the Military Caregivers: Less Clutter Equals Less Stress episode on Hope For The Warriors Talk Radio. You'll hear great tips and receive encouragement on how to get rid of clutter and some of the stress that goes along with it.  

Two Motorcyclists Ride Cross-Country Fulfilling A Warrior’s Wish®

On July 1, 2015, Air Force Veteran, Michael Nehlsen, and Jeff Molesko began a cross-country motorcycle trip, called Riding For Warriors, to raise funds and awareness for Hope For The Warriors®. Their journey started in Seattle, Washington, and ended on July 12, 2015, in Union, NJ. The duo logged over 4,344 miles and traveled through 14 states gaining support for military families. Michael, a New York native, and Jeff, a New Jersey native, made many stops along the way, including: the Jimi Hendrix Memorial, Mount Rushmore, several national parks, and Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota.

“As a young man, I had the privilege to serve my country [...] During this time I saw and experienced intimately the sacrifices service members and their families were expected to make,” said Michael. “I continue to be deeply appreciative of the struggles faced by our service members, and am committed to helping them achieve their goals.”

Together, Michael and Jeff raised over $40,000 from Riding For Warriors which went to support A Warrior’s Wish®, a program within Hope For The Warriors®. A Warrior's Wish® honors the goals and desires of severely wounded service members, veterans, and their families. Wishes fulfill a desire for a better quality of life, or support a quest for life-gratifying endeavors for post-9/11 service members, their families, and families of the fallen who have sustained physical and psychological wounds in the line of duty. 

Riding For Warriors successfully raised over $40,000 to support the following Wishes: two road bicycles for two Army veterans serving in their community as peer mentors to other veterans, a bass boat for an Army veteran actively engaged as the Veterans Minister in his East Texas community, and woodworking tools and equipment for two service members seeking a new means of supporting their family upon separating from the Marine Corps.

Riding For Warriors has given these incredible veterans and military families the opportunity to improve their lives and accomplish new goals. Hope For The Warriors® would like to thank Michael, Jeff, and all of their supporters for restoring Hope around the country. Find out more about A Warriors Wish® and learn how you can help support the Wishes of deserving service members!

Michael and Jeff are still fundraising for Riding For Warriors! They plan on meeting a $50,000 goal and they are currently at $45,000. Please consider supporting Riding For Warriors today!