Army veteran Warren Sims raised $19,000 for his local VFW by taking a non-stop 55 mile walk from Indianapolis, IN to Kokomo, IN. The walk was part of the “Nickel For 55” campaign, a campaign intended to raise $15,000 for the VFW Post 1152 Kokomo Military Rites Team to purchase new rifles.
Sims asked donors to give only one nickel for each mile walked, coming out to only $2.75 per donor. He prepared for weeks, logging 105.2 miles prior to making the journey. Community members say he radiated positivity while training, despite being nearly $10,000 short of his goal one week before the scheduled departure.
“We’re pretty excited. We’re prepared. All logistics are ready and in line. Now we just have to make it happen,” they told local reporters one week before the walk.
Sims was able to not only meet his goal by the deadline, but exceeded it by nearly $4,000 thanks to an outpouring of community support. Several local businesses accepted donations on behalf of the “nickel for 55” campaign and even made donations of their own.
He was alone for a majority of the trip but was joined by donors and fellow members of the VFW for the final half mile of the walk. The group then retired to the Kokomo VFW for food, laughs, and fellowship.
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