Veterans Health Administration
2015 VA Walk & Roll Sees Growth
More than 23,000 Veterans and VA employees nationwide walked a two kilometer course for homeless Veterans, raising more than $325,000 in donations.
More than 23,500 VA employees, Veterans and community members recently teamed up to generate donations worth more than $325,600 in items such as clothing, toiletry items, food and water for homeless Veterans, during VA‘s fifth annual 2K Walk & Roll.
In addition to helping homeless Veterans, the event also promotes personal health. Since 2010 the annual event has helped generate more than $1.34 million worth of donated items.
“All donations are of course optional, but VA2K participants are provided with a list of suggested donation items that are appropriate to their location,” said Sandra Schmunk, program manager for the Veteran Health Administration‘s Employee Health Promotion, Disease and Impairment Prevention group.
VA2K is a 2-kilometer (1.24 mile) walk and roll, and this year the event was held at 211 VA locations nationwide, up from 170 in 2014. VA personnel in VA Central Office in Washington, D.C., the Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans Benefits Administration, and the National Cemetery Administration participated in the event.
“The VA2K began as a way to encourage safe, effective physical activity in employees and Veterans. A 2K can be completed in 15-20 minutes, certainly doable during the workday as a break,” Schmunk said.
She added that walking is one of the safest and easiest forms of exercise that most people can take part in, either walking or rolling using a wheelchair. “You don‘t need to go to a gym, or have special equipment, other than good shoes,” Schmunk said.
