Beginning in January 2014, the father/son team of Rick Cardona and Rick Cardona Sr., both retired from the US Army will begin taking the 1300 mile trek of the Florida Scenic Trail as participants in Warrior Hike.
Their purpose: Walk off the war and bring awareness to PTSD. The Cardonas are not only the 1st Father and Son Team to participate in Warrior Hike but they are also the Beta Team for the Florida Scenic Trail. The Florida Scenic Trail is one of eleven National Scenic Trails in the United States. With 1,300 miles planned, the trail runs from from Big Cypress National Preserve to Fort Pickens at Gulf Islands National Seashore, Pensacola Beach.
“Warrior Hike really wanted to open a southern trail,” noted Rick Cardona Jr., “so we are actually the Beta Team for the trail.” During the journey along the Florida Scenic Trail, both father and son are looking forward to having the opportunity to decompress from their military service, come to terms with their wartime experiences and raise awareness for PTSD. “I’ve seen things I didn’t want to see. So many of us struggle silently, and I want people to know this is real.” Rick Cardona Sr. added, “we have a lot of demons to face and fight.”
Medi-Dyne works with the Warrior Hike program to supply 2Toms® BlisterShield and 2Toms® SportShield® products to the participants. Preventing blisters and chafing along the way is important. Most hikers will walk 1300 – 2000 miles over three to six months. That’s a lot of wear and tear – especially on your feet. Blisters are bound to happen but anything that can be done to prevent blisters and diminish chafing helps keep hikers comfortable and Targeting a completion date of March 31, 2015, both Rick Cardona and Rick Cardona Jr. are looking forward to beginning 2015 with a new outlook on life.
According to Warrior Hike: More than 2.3 million veterans have returned home from Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001, and more than 20 percent of those veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, according the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Medi-Dyne proudly supports Warrior Hike with 2Toms® BlisterShield® and 2Toms® SportShield® products for hikes along the Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail and Pacific Coast Trail. Read more about Warrior Hike and how you can help.
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