Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland

05/18/2022 | News release | Distributed by Public on 05/16/2022 18:22

St. Michael School and Travis Mills Walk-A-Thon in Augusta

With a goal of $25,000, preparations continue for the annual St. Michael School and Travis Mills Walk-A-Thon on Wednesday, May 18. The event will be held at the school, which is located on 56 Sewall Street in Augusta.

"It is an amazing day," said Principal Kevin Cullen. "It's always great to have Travis here. He inspires our staff, our students, and me to be better."

For weeks, students at St. Michael School in Augusta have gathered pledges from their families, friends, and community members. Garnering support is not difficult once potential donors are told of who will benefit from their generosity: wounded veterans and the families served by the Travis Mills Foundation.

The event on May 18 will begin with a special speech from Travis himself in the school gym at 9 a.m. followed by the students walking laps around the school block with parent volunteers supervising.

A free barbecue lunch will be offered to students and staff at 11 a.m.

"It's great when the public comes out and cheers on our students as they walk," said Cullen. "We are so thankful to all of the people who have made this event a success each year."

Travis is a retired United States Army Staff Sergeant of the 82nd Airborne and one of only five quadruple amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was wounded by an improvised explosive device during his third tour in Afghanistan in 2012. During his recovery, Mills discovered a passion for inspiring fellow wounded servicemen and women. He founded the Travis Mills Foundation, a nonprofit organization, formed to benefit and assist wounded and injured veterans and their families. He has traveled around the country as a motivational speaker, inspiring thousands to overcome life's challenges and defy odds. In 2015, his book, Tough as They Come, was published.

For more information on how you can support the walk-a-thon, call the school at (207) 623-3491. If your business might be interested in donating, email Jenn Sparda at [email protected].

The rain date for the walk-a-thon is Wednesday, May 25.