This week Camp ASCCA has had the privilege of hosting America’s Heroes Enjoying Recreation Outdoors. AHERO is a veterans and first responder suicide prevention nonprofit organization.
Our Social Media Specialist, Elise had an opportunity to sit down with Lee Stuckey, CEO, and president of AHERO, and talk about what AHERO is, who it serves, and why it is so important for veterans to have an organization like AHERO.
AHERO’s purpose is to create events to bring in like-minded individuals, learn what shortcomings they may have, and connect them with resources so that when they leave an event they are less likely to cause harm to themselves. The veterans and first responders leave with a new pride, sense of belonging, and purpose.
AHERO has served over 11,000 veterans and first responders and stopped hundreds of suicides through its program. They do everything from helping veterans get VA benefits, to marriage counseling if needed and include alcohol and substance abuse treatment.
AHERO partners with Tall Timbers. Tall Timbers’ mission is to foster exemplary land stewardship through research, conservation, and education. Lee is a full time employee with Tall Timbers as their Central Alabama Prescribed Burn Coordinator and was able to partner with others to make this event possible. By partnering with one another they ensure veterans and first responders have a new sense of purpose and employment while giving back to conservation and wildlife management.
AHERO shows those transitioning out of service new ways they can spend this chapter of life. They are still able to serve and support their community through doing wildland fires and prescribed burning.
Stuckey says “God has allowed me to live through a lot of combat and conflict in my own life to serve veterans and first responders. My three loves are veterans, conservation, and wildlife. Being able to share my passion with veterans and first responders… is the best job in the world.”
This week for AHERO was made possible thanks to a community of organizations that care about our veterans, first responders, and our natural resources.
AHERO’s partners include Alabama Association of RC&D Councils, Tall Timbers, Working Lands for Wildlife, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Russell Lands, Central Alabama Prescribed Burn Association (CAPBA), Operation Phoenix, Jim and Nick Gilpin from Interactive Training Media Inc., and Alabama Extension.
AHERO wants to give a special thanks to Mark Tuggle, Noopie Cosby, John Stivers, John McGuire, and the entire Camp ASCCA staff for making this event possible.
To learn more about AHERO and the wonderful things they are doing click here.
Located in Alabama on Lake Martin, Camp ASCCA offers campers a wide variety of traditional recreational and educational activities with a unique design for accessibility.
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