FOAR From Home is honored at home by FBCC

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
March 16, 2022

 

The audience in Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) Chambers for the March 15, 2022 FBCC Regular Meeting erupted in applause as Mayor Lednovich read a City Proclamation recognizing the Foar From Home rowing team for their successful completion of the Talisker Whisky Challenge, raising awareness to combat the high rate of Veteran suicide in the United States and fundraising for Veteran post-traumatic stress disorder medical research. 

Foar From Home Team members were in attendance to accept the Proclamation: U. S. Army Veteran Bill Cimino; U.S. Air Force Veteran Cameron Hansen; U.S. Navy Veteran Hupp Huppmann; and U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Paul Lore.  The entire Proclamation is presented below:

Following the presentation, team spokesman Paul Lore addressed the FBCC and the audience.  An emotional Lore delivered remarks reflecting the team’s appreciation for all the community support throughout the campaign to raise funds and successfully complete the journey.

“We had a land support team comprised of friends and family and community members,” Lore said.

Lore said that initially the team’s goal was to raise sufficient funds to train four dogs to help veterans as they struggled to regain civilian life following combat experience.  The generosity of businesses and individuals allowed them to surpass their modest goal by raising (to date) $890,000, which will go toward building a kennel and training many more dogs for vets.  The new kennel will produce 64 trained service dogs each year, and greatly reduce the waiting list time for vets to receive their dogs.

He credited businesses large and small who helped finance the effort, but added that most humbling was the grass roots support of almost 300 people who donated from ten dollars to $500 for the cause.

“Everything was generated by a volunteer base,” Lore said.  “We really feel that Amelia Island and Fernandina went with us on this journey.”

FOAR from Home Team (l-r): Cameron Hansen, Hupp Huppmann, Paul Lore, Billy Cimino

For more information about the team, its members and challenges, visit their website https://foarfromhome.com.  

Learn how you can help combat veteran suicides.

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Peggy Bulger
Peggy Bulger(@peggy-bulger1949gmail-com)
2 years ago

This recognition is so absolutely right on. Foar from Home did more than raise significant money for a very important cause, they united our community at a time where it seems that we are more and more divided ideologically . . . it gives me hope for all of us to treat everyone humanely and with love. Thank you FOAR!!!