Bataan Memorial Death March for Fisher House

Friends and Family,

I will be participating in the Bataan Memorial Death March heavy class on March 15th, 2020 in the White Sands Missile Range, carrying a 35 pound pack 26.2 miles across high desert terrain to commemorate the WWII veterans who made this historic forced march and the hundreds of American GI's who died during it after the Battle of Bataan.

While WWII is long since over, America has seen itself in prolonged conflict for my entire adult life and many of yours, where tens of thousands of young men and women have been wounded or killed in combat service overseas in the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and other regional conflict.

While I'm not as young and indestructable as I was in this photo taken near Mahmudiya, Iraq on Christmas Day 2003, I was hoping to channel my efforts to complete the Bataan Memorial Death March in to raising money for the Fisher House Foundation.  Fisher Houses are akin to what the Ronald McDonald House does, except that their mission is focused on providing military families housing close to a loved one during hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury.

The Fisher House Foundation has provided assistance to countless military families, and I was hoping to count on you, my friends and family, to contribute to this fundraising effort for a highly worthy organization. 

I have set a pretty modest goal of just $1,000. The deal I will make with you is that if for some reason this thing takes off, I will start adding weight to my pack: for every $1,000 raised beyond my goal I will add another pound to what I am carrying. I would be thrilled if I ended up having to carry something much heavier than 35 pounds across the desert.

Thanks in advance for your support of my fundraising effort for the Fisher House Foundation and all it does for our Nation's military families.

Sincerely,

Chris Barrett M.D.