Vietnam veteran marks 10 years of walks to raise money for UCLA ’s Operation Mend

Charity ManessRic Ryan has become known as the “Walking Man of Murphys.”Ric Ryan, 72, fought for his country in Vietnam, has had both knees and one hip replaced and, in August, was struck by a car at a crosswalk.The car accident took him out of action for several weeks, but soon he was back trekking along the streets near his hometown of Murphys, California to raise money for a UCLA program that helps wounded veterans of post 9-11 conflicts, most of whom weren ’t even born when Ryan was a Marine fighting in the jungles of Vietnam.In 2008, Ryan saw a TV news story about UCLA Health ’sOperation Mend. The program provides specialty medical and psychological health care for veterans injured in the line of duty since the 9-11 terror attacks in 2001, and includes their families in the care.Inspired by the story, he embarked on a one-man fundraising campaign by collecting waves during his regular walks through Murphys, a former gold-mining settlement tucked away in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains about 340 miles from Los Angeles. Each time someone in a passing car waved at him during a walk, which isn ’t uncommon in a tight-knit small town, he would wave back and earmark 25 cents from his savings.Local residents soon heard what he was doing, which led to more waving, and they began pulling over their cars to hand him cash and checks.“I told people that I was walking for Operation Mend because the veterans don’t pay for anything and the program takes care o...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news