Walk for Heroes to support veteran equine-assisted therapy nonprofit

Monroe nonprofit H3 Horses Healing Heroes (H3) will host its first Walk for Heroes, a 5K fun run/walk fundraising event honoring those who have served and are still serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Walk for Heroes takes place 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, June 26, at Lake Tye Park in Monroe. Registration for the event is $40 for adults 19 and over, $25 for students 13-18 and $10 for kids 9-12. Children under the age of eight can participate for free. The route will wind twice around Lake Tye's 1.6-mile walking trail, a flat, easy-to-navigate pathway. Registration is available on the day of the event, which is pet friendly.

Participants are welcome to honor a veteran with a few written words or a photo, which will be displayed by H3 volunteers at the event. T-shirts will be available, although sizes may be limited for those registering on the day of the walk.-á

Founded by Monroe resident Arleen Gibson and her sister Joyce Coombs, H3 Horses Healing Heroes is a nonprofit dedicated to the care and treatment of wounded warriors. Through equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP), Gibson uses her horses to facilitate healing from combat trauma, post-traumatic stress injury, traumatic brain injury and military sexual trauma.

H3 is located in between Monroe and Sultan on upper Fern Bluff Road. Gibson comes from a military family, and was inspired to create H3 after attending a presentation on post-traumatic stress injury in 2012. Faced with the dismal reality of struggling veterans that need care, Gibson was spurred to action.

Proceeds from the Walk for Heroes event will help support Gibson's vision and help increase her ability to provide services to veterans at no cost to them. H3 is a 501(C)3 nonprofit, and donations are welcome.-á -á

Lake Tye Park is at 14964 Fryelands Blvd. S.E., Monroe. To register online, click here. For more information about H3 Horses Healing Heroes, visit horseshealingheroes.com.