While many of us celebrate Memorial Day by putting barbeque grills and swimming pools in full service for the season, we should always remember the true meaning of this holiday. Memorial Day is dedicated to the men, women, and families who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. It is also a day to recognize, celebrate, and honor the lives and accomplishments of those that serve our country and defend our freedom.
Last year at Power Systems, we celebrated Memorial Day by announcing our support for the nationwide, veteran-based charity, Catch A Lift. By donating a percentage of our sales over Memorial Day weekend of 2016, we were able to support two veterans in their program.
What does that mean to the lives of the veterans this fund supports?
The Catch A Lift Fund enables post-9/11 combat wounded veterans all across the U.S. to recover and rehabilitate both physically and mentally through physical fitness, motivation, and support. Lynn Coffland started the organization in 2010 as a tribute to her brother, Army Cpl. Chris Coffland who was killed in Afghanistan the year before. Chris would often head off to the gym and invite a friend or two to come “catch a lift” with him. They found that a workout not only helped with building and maintaining strength, but the mental benefits were very uplifting.
After the loss of her brother, Lynn created Catch A Lift in his honor to help promote healing in other post-9/11 veterans who had been wounded in combat. Through Catch A Lift, veterans regain their mental and physical health through access to gym memberships, in-home gym equipment, personalized fitness and nutrition programs, and a peer support network.
Since 2010, Catch A Lift has helped thousands of veterans return to a healthy lifestyle through weight loss, reduction or elimination of medication, and strengthening of relationships between family and friends.
We help veterans who are seeking a new outlet for post-traumatic injuries,” Lynn Coffland said.
Not only does Catch A Lift provide veterans the products that they need to restore their health, but they also track the their progress to ensure their success. Veterans who are involved with Catch A Lift are held accountable by the MAPS Program. In MAPS, veterans support each other in small groups that offer Motivation, Accountability, and Peer Support.
“When veterans help other veterans in MAPS, they go from being served to serving other veterans, which in itself is a huge healing mechanism,” Coffland said.
Retired first class Army SGT Jimi McMahon said that he was able to change his life by getting involved with the Catch A Lift organization. Before Catch A Lift, McMahon was suffering severely from PTSD. Due to the post-traumatic stress, he began distancing himself from his family and friends until he found complete solitude by moving to the woods for a year. During this time, he was on 18 different prescription medicines, and then he found Catch A Lift.
“I started off day by day, little by little and I lost over 300 pounds,” McMahon said when describing his transformation to better health.
McMahon’s PTSD also improved and with the emotional support Catch A Lift offers. He was able to dwindle his 18 prescription medicines down to three.
According to Coffland, Catch A Lift is currently working with nearly 3000 veterans all over the nation. The program is in such demand however, that Catch A Lift continues to receive over 200 applications a month.
Power Systems is thrilled to support Catch A Lift again this year by donating a percentage of our total sales this week directly to Catch A Lift. You can help our veterans regain their physical and mental health through fitness with your purchase from Power Systems this week. All you have to do is pick up the phone (800.321.6975) or go to our website to place your order and we will take care of the rest – OR – head over to catchaliftfund.org and donate now.
