Landstuhl Fisher Houses receive $35,000 from KMC 5/6 Club

  • Published
  • By Genevieve Northup
  • Landstuhl Fisher House
LANDSTUHL, Germany --  The Landstuhl Fisher Houses received a donation of $35,000 from the KMC 5/6 Club in early September. The funds were raised during the Viking Challenge, a 24-hour run/walkathon that started at noon on July 30, 2010.

"All of us at the Landstuhl Fisher Houses wish to express our gratitude and appreciation for the incredibly generous donation made by the KMC 5/6 Viking Challenge. Their support allows us to provide the very best quality of life to our patients and their families, which is an essential part of the recovery process following a medical crisis," said Vivian Wilson, manager of the Landstuhl Fisher Houses, who was overwhelmed with the support of the community.

During the annual Viking Challenge, teams of eight to 11 collected pledges for the number of laps they planned to run or walk. One member from each team was required to compete on the track at all times. More than 800 participants, 400 pledgers and 50 volunteers and committee members worked to make this event a success. SSgt Anjelica Kaylor, event coordinator, began organizing this year's event in January with the goal of doubling the $15,000 raised for the Landstuhl Fisher Houses last year.

"I am very grateful to the committee members for helping me put my plan into action and for the assistance from the community," said Kaylor.

The KMC 5/6 Club would also like to thank AFN and the Kaiserslautern American for advertising, Wally Images for photography, Jonathan Agosta for announcing and everyone who assisted with the event as team captains, pledgers, volunteers and participants.

The two Landstuhl Fisher Houses offer homes away from home at no cost to active duty and retired service members and their families during treatment at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, alowing families to offer support to each other and their loved ones during times of medical crisis. Given as a gift from the Fisher House Foundation, the houses are owned, operated and maintained by the Department of the Army, under the Army Fisher House Program.

Since their inception in 2001, the Landstuhl Fisher Houses have supported more than 8,968 families, of which 2,333 have come from Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom. The houses have also supported 27 coalition countries.

The Landstuhl Fisher Houses depend greatly on the charitable donations and volunteer hours of individuals and organizations for day-to-day operations, projects and events. For more information about the Landstuhl Fisher House, please call 06371-61833-11 or visit www.fisherhouse-landstuhl.org.