FORT BENNING, Ga. (Feb. 5, 2014) -- Fort Benning and surrounding communities are invited to cheer on a wounded Soldier as he strides toward recovery and the finish line during an upcoming charity walk.
The National Infantry Museum will be the last stop of The Warrior's Walk March 4, a 222-mile walk honoring Cpl. Joshua Hargis. Hargis lost both legs from the knee down Oct. 6, 2013, during a raid in southern Afghanistan, which involved members of the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. IED explosions killed four U.S. Soldiers and injured several others.
The Warrior's Walk was organized by Hargis's brother-in-law, Sgt. Patrick Griffith.
Griffith said the walk quickly gained support from loved ones and others across the country for Hargis and his wife, Taylor. Members of the Fort Myers Police Department's Special Weapons and Tactics unit recently ran 222 miles across the Edison Bridge in Fort Myers, Fla., to support Hargis.
"I didn't know anything about fundraising or logistically organizing a walk," he said. "I've had a tremendous amount of help from Family and friends. The outpouring of support has far exceeded what I thought was going to come."
A dozen friends and Family members will start along the back roads from Fort Stewart, Ga., to Fort Benning beginning Feb.17.
Hargis, who is undergoing physical therapy in Texas, will complete the last four miles of the walk starting on Victory Drive using a custom-built hand-powered cycle donated by the nonprofit organization, Operation One Voice. The group will arrive at the National Infantry Museum around noon March 4, where a brief ceremony will be held to celebrate the accomplishment and thank supporters.
Griffith said Hargis has steadily improved over the past four months and is excited to participate.
"Josh is unwavering in his approach to get better," he said "He recently got to take his prostheses home for the first time and walk around his house without crutches or a wheelchair."
Griffith said he hopes the walk will serve as awareness that America is still a nation at war.
"We want to bring to the forefront that there are still men and women going down range to fight for this country," he said. "We hope that this becomes an annual event and helps another wounded Soldier or the spouse of one of our fallen brothers or sisters. We got Josh and Taylor back on their feet, how can we help someone else?"
For more information about The Warrior's Walk, visit www.thewarriorswalk.com or www.facebook.com/thewarriorswalk.
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