Lansdale Hometown Hero Walk Organizer Thanks Public

, organized by veteran and Upper Gwynedd resident Michael "Bishop" Rieg, was a success, bringing in more than $24,000 for injured Armed Forces servicemen and servicewomen.

Councilman Mike Sobel notified the public of the event's success at a council meeting last Wednesday, prompted by an email from Rieg.

"I received an email from 'Bish' Rieg, who is the gentleman who put together the Hero Walk. It's amazing when the good people of this town get together to try and support something that's worthwhile," said Sobel. "We have a lot of worthwhile charities and events that go on here - Manna is one - and this particular one helps our Wounded Warriors."

Sobel said the event brought out a lot of familiar faces, including Rep. Bob Godshall and members of Lansdale council and staff.

"Just to let everybody know how worthwhile this was - and I hope (Rieg) has the energy and the willingness to come forward and do this next year - this year they raised over $24,000 through this event for the Wounded Warrior Project," Sobel said.

"I feel very, very good about people coming together to support these folks that have been injured in the line of duty serving us in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places," Sobel said. "It's really nice to be part of it and, again, I hope he comes up with it again next year and beat this amount." 

Sobel said those who participated should applaud themselves.

"Let's do it again next year," he said.

Here is an email Rieg sent to Montgomeryville-Lansdale Patch regarding the success of the Hero Walk: 

Dear Friends,

Thank you, one and all, for the success of the PA Hometown Hero Walk in Lansdale on Saturday, June 9, 2012.

The many contributions made by so many of you made it a very terrific event.  We had over 500 participants and over 35 sponsors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Including the walk in Lansdale, and various (and continuing) venues and events where T-shirts, ball caps, pins, bandanas, patches, and hoodies were sold and donations taken, we have already raised over $24,000.  

I would like to emphasize the continuing nature of our efforts.  All the money we raise goes to the Wounded Warrior Project, which gives direct physical, psychological, vocational, recreational and medical assistance to our severely injured women and men returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.  Just as important (as raising money), in the process each of us has raised public awareness of the sacrifices of the veterans and their families.   

Since the PA Hometown Hero Walk was and is a continuing part of the larger PA HERO WALK (www.paherowalk.org), I am asking for your continued support to let me know of any events or venues where we might be able to set up a table, sell some of the Wounded Warrior Project gear referenced above, take donations or be given the opportunity to speak or appear in order to tell the story of the PA Hero Walk and the Wounded Warrior Project. Thank you.

We are also planning to have the 2nd-annual, one-hour PA Hometown Hero Walk in Lansdale, so please SAVE THE DATE OF SATURDAY JUNE 8, 2013 for our local walk.

Next year, the statewide PA Hero Walk will begin in Philadelphia on Sunday, June 9, 2013 and end in Lower Burrell, PA (NE of Pittsburgh) on Saturday, June 22, 2013.

Thank you for your great and continuing support and if you have any comments as to how we might improve our PA Hometown Hero Walk on Saturday, June 8, 2013, please call or write me.  

Thank you and God bless.

Bish
Michael Bishop Rieg
215-362-1089
www.paherowalk.org
www.woundedwarriorproject.org

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