LOUISVILLE SLUGGER® & BIONIC® BACK IRAQ WAR
VETERAN’S EFFORT TO “DRUM UP” HELP FOR U.S. MILITARY FAMILIES
LOUISVILLE,
KY - (February 23, 2010) Louisville Slugger® has supported
U.S. military efforts dating back to World War I when the storied
company sent baseball equipment to soldiers in Europe to boost their
morale. American soldiers in WWI reportedly shed tears of joy
upon first seeing those famous Louisville Slugger bats.
Louisville
Slugger® has helped U.S. troops in every war and conflict since by
sending them baseball, softball, and other sports equipment.
Working with non profits, which support deployed soldiers and their
families, Louisville Slugger has helped send more than 17 tons of
sports gear to soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2003.
Now
Louisville Slugger® and its sister division Bionic® gloves are stepping
up to the plate for our military again, this time challenging other
companies and individuals to help the families of our deployed
soldiers. The company that makes the Official Bat of Major League
Baseball and equipment for youth, high school, and college baseball is
supporting Iraq war veteran SPC Troy Yocum’s 16 month effort to march
7,000 miles over America while drumming up support, literally, for
military families. He calls it Hike for Our Heroes.
Louisville
Slugger® and Bionic® are providing a variety of assistance for Yocum’s
Hike for Our Heroes, including a network of help across the U.S. as
well as patented high-tech Pro Mark® Bionic® drummers’ gloves to keep
Yocum’s hands fit while playing his drum over 7,000 miles. Bionic
drummer’s gloves, developed by Dr. James Kleinert, a leading orthopedic
hand surgeon, fight fatigue, blisters, and calluses.
In
addition, today Louisville Slugger® is contributing the first $1,000 to
Hike for Our Heroes and is challenging other companies and individuals
to match or surpass its contribution.
“We
encourage companies and citizens across America to step up and assist
the families of our deployed soldiers through Hike for Our Heroes,”
Redman said. “These soldiers and their families have sacrificed
so much for all of us, it’s fitting that we show our support for them.”
Yocum
will begin his 7,000 mile journey at Louisville Slugger® Museum &
Factory’s “Big Bat” on April 17th. The museum will also have a
special display during Yocum’s Hike for Our Heroes, honoring his
efforts and remembering military Families in need.
“Louisville
Slugger® and Bionic® have supported my dream of drumming and marching
across America to help military families from the beginning,” Yocum
said. “They connected me with their partners at Heroes of the
Diamond who, along with Louisville Slugger®, will help me connect with
pro baseball teams to march the bases at ballparks and raise awareness
and funds for Vets in need.”
As Yocumnotes on his web site, www.drumhike.com,
the need is great. In the last 6 years over 19,000 Military
families have applied for assistance and nearly 50% of those soldiers
have been helped. By spreading awareness he hopes to save the homes and
lives of his fellow brothers and sisters in arms.
"They
have fought for us, and now I will fight for them. If I reach the
goal of $5 million, then many families will be helped,” Yocum said.
-slugger.com- |
