In support of the Shepherd’s Men 2017 run from Shanksville, Pennsylvania, to Atlanta, Cumberland Diamond Exchange donated $2,200 to help stop veteran suicides on May 12. From May 22 through May 29, 16 warriors are running 22km per day from Shanksville to Atlanta, supporting the treatment of PTSD and traumatic brain injury at Shepherd Center in Atlanta.
The SHARE Military Initiative has never lost a client to suicide during the life of the program. The run is to generate the resources required for sustaining this life-saving program.
“After hearing Travis Ellis speak, with unwavering passion (at the Cobb County Chairman’s Club) three years ago, Mark and I made the decision to support the S.H.A.R.E. Initiative,” said Rhonda Jacobson, co-owner of Cumberland Diamond Exchange with her husband.
“Cumberland Diamond Exchange will continue to follow Travis’ lead demonstrating our appreciation for the sacrifice soldiers make to preserve our freedom, serve us and our great country. This includes time on the battlefield, time away from their families as well as the physical & mental scars they must deal with when they come home. With 22 veteran suicides every day, we feel an obligation to help."
“Also, I experienced a loss personally, when my cousin committed suicide during the Vietnam war — it forever changed me. We all need to hear the call for help and do & give whatever we can.”
Community involvement is important to Cumberland Diamond Exchange and ties in with their philosophy of service. The Jacobson family believes it is their responsibility to create a better community through partnerships with non-profits. Throughout the years, many charities in the Metropolitan Atlanta area have received help in the form of donations.
SHARE Military Initiative at Shepherd Center is a comprehensive rehabilitation program that focuses on assessment and treatment for service men and women who have sustained a mild to moderate TBI and PTSD from combat in post-9/11 conflicts.