Luke’s Wings raises more than $30,000 for Wounded Warriors

Luke's Wings  Heroes Walk to Fly event Sunday in Bethesda, photo via Kipp Burgoyne Luke's Wings Heroes Walk to  Fly event Sunday in Bethesda, photo via Kipp Burgoyne Luke's Wings Heroes Walk to  Fly event Sunday in Bethesda, photo via Scott Brodbeck Luke's Wings Heroes Walk to Fly event Sunday in Bethesda, photo via  Kipp Burgoyne Luke's Wings Heroes Walk to  Fly event Sunday in Bethesda, photo via Kipp Burgoyne

A nonprofit that provides plane flights for wounded warriors at Walter Reed and their family members raised more than $30,000 on Sunday at a first-ever Bethesda fundraiser.

Luke’s Wings, the group that purchases the plane tickets, put on the inaugural Heroes Walk To Fly fundraiser with a 1.8-mile walk from the Stone Ridge School to Euro Motorcars on Arlington Road. There, wounded warriors and other participants were greeted with free food, drinks, massages and a petting zoo.

The U.S. military provides just three flights at the inception of someone’s stay at Walter Reed, which proves difficult for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who have been receiving care at Walter Reed for years. Many are from far away, which makes it difficult for family members to come to town. The average cost of a flight is $500.

Jen Magerer, who helps book the plane tickets for Luke’s Wings, said the money raised at Sunday’s event would pay for at least 75 flights.

“As the person who books those flights, that means I can continue to say yes again and again,” Magerer said. “It just means a lot to be able to say yes to our families.”

The event also was an opportunity for the veterans behind the walls at Naval Support Activity Bethesda to interact with the local business owners and community members who participated. A number of disabled veterans took part in the walk.

Photos via Kipp Burgoyne, Scott Brodbeck

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