Due to unstable and conflicting events in the world, the United States estimates a significant increase in the number of our younger veteran population for the next several years.
Our veterans are coming back with PTSD in increasing numbers, not all from combat duty. Suicide rates are at a staggering rate compared to the general population and re-entry into civilain life can leave many feeling lost. PTSD and the stress created, opens the door to other health problems, many very serious.
With limited resourses, the Simonton Cancer Center is attempting to provide additional services to our returning soldiers, in particular our women warriors.
With this new program, SCC plans to schedule 2 retreats a year, 1 solely for our female verterans. *Female veterans have even greater difficulty to acccess healthcare with only 1/3 of veteran hospitals employing physicians that deal with womens health (OB/GYN). VA services for many are too far away for them to regularly attend. In addition, child care falls predominantly to these women and logistics can be complicated.
As SCC did in the AIDS epidemic in the 1980's, stepping in to do our part, we feel a need to address some of these problems for our women warriors in our limited but powerful way.
Please note: Our regular retreat program's are ALWAYS open to our male and female veteran population.
With help from the Raven Drum Foundation, The Wounded Warrior Project, and SCC, our goal is to have our vets attend these retreats at no cost to them.
If interested, qualifying, and wishing to attend this project, please register under the scholarship application, (under MORE on the website) and set up a phone appointment at our office at 800 459 3424. On your application, please state/add military affiliation and years in service.
If interested in assisting this program and these veterans financially, please DONATE on our home page!
Thank you!
Karen SmithSimonton Executive Director Simonton Cancer Center