Donations needed to support veterans climb
Washington native Ryan Job was a Navy Seal when a sniper's bullet in Iraq cost him in his sight.
Marine Sgt. Joey Martinez also lost his eyesight in Iraq, when an IED exploded nearby.
And Staff Sergeant Chad Jukes, serving with the U.S. Army Reserves in Iraq, lost his foot in an explosion.
Camp Patriot is the group helping them fulfill their goal of summiting this majestic mountain.
"The goal is to actually show them they have abilities to get in the outdoors and not concentrate on the disabilities they've been diagnosed with," said Micah Clark, who founded Camp Patriot.
This is his second year taking disabled veterans up Mount Rainier.
"We give them a free trip, it doesn't cost them a dime," he said. "It's the least we can do for the blanket of protection they've provided us, living in the United States."
By why Mt. Rainier -- a mountain that only about 50 percent of able-bodied people successfully summit?
"At 14,410 feet, I guess it's do-able," Clark said. "So we can get these three guys, who all come from special operations community and they challenged themselves before, why lower the bar? Let's push it up there and see what we can do."
The group kicked off its summit attempt aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter Eagle in Tacoma.
They're not only looking for moral support, but also financial.
"We need help. So I don't know how many viewers you have but we if just go with the simple math of a dollar per viewer could be a huge success and help with our veterans and do more of these programs," Clark said.
The Camp Patriot logo says it all: "Giving back to those who have given."
So far, they've been able to make it work by borrowing equipment but, in order to expand the program, they really need to buy some of their gear, like climbing helmets.
Check out their web site to learn more and see how you can help.
They're even raffling off a new log home.
Marine Sgt. Joey Martinez also lost his eyesight in Iraq, when an IED exploded nearby.
And Staff Sergeant Chad Jukes, serving with the U.S. Army Reserves in Iraq, lost his foot in an explosion.
Camp Patriot is the group helping them fulfill their goal of summiting this majestic mountain.
"The goal is to actually show them they have abilities to get in the outdoors and not concentrate on the disabilities they've been diagnosed with," said Micah Clark, who founded Camp Patriot.
This is his second year taking disabled veterans up Mount Rainier.
"We give them a free trip, it doesn't cost them a dime," he said. "It's the least we can do for the blanket of protection they've provided us, living in the United States."
By why Mt. Rainier -- a mountain that only about 50 percent of able-bodied people successfully summit?
"At 14,410 feet, I guess it's do-able," Clark said. "So we can get these three guys, who all come from special operations community and they challenged themselves before, why lower the bar? Let's push it up there and see what we can do."
The group kicked off its summit attempt aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter Eagle in Tacoma.
They're not only looking for moral support, but also financial.
"We need help. So I don't know how many viewers you have but we if just go with the simple math of a dollar per viewer could be a huge success and help with our veterans and do more of these programs," Clark said.
The Camp Patriot logo says it all: "Giving back to those who have given."
So far, they've been able to make it work by borrowing equipment but, in order to expand the program, they really need to buy some of their gear, like climbing helmets.
Check out their web site to learn more and see how you can help.
They're even raffling off a new log home.