(Rescheduled due to inclement weather)
The 2016 annual Mike Hamlar Golf Tournament scheduled to take place Saturday, May 21, (National Armed Forces Day), at the Hunting Hills Country Club is being rescheduled for Friday, June 24 due to the anticipation of inclement weather.
The event will still support local non-profit, the Veterans MX Foundation (VET MX), in their efforts to provide alternative physical therapy, community support, and empowerment opportunities for modern warriors returning from service and recovering from a wide variety of physical and psychological injuries.
Vet MX empowers veterans struggling with the physical and mental scars of service by providing an opportunity to develop a new and unexpectedly beneficial physical skill. While tapping into the thrill seeking personality that makes our service men and women so brave in combat, Vet MX instructors leverage the process of teaching the extreme sport of motor cross to arm vets with the physical and mental discipline required to effectively heal, recover, and re-assimilate.
Friday, June 24, 2016, Golfers from across the state of Virginia will gather at Hunting Hills Country Club in Roanoke to help raise money for the local non-profit – founded by two local veterans and Cave Spring High School graduates, Cody and Dustin Blankenship.
“Veteran MX is doing exceptional work throughout Virginia by providing comprehensive training programs, bikes, prosthetics, and the protective gear necessary to teach veterans the art and science of motocross from the ground up. They are providing an entertaining outlet for our service men and women but, more than that, they are providing mental, physical and personal development opportunities for these service members based on emerging science that points to the physical benefits of adrenaline, dopemine, and other natural hormones in the process of healing, pain management, and recovery. These guys are picking up where traditional veterans benefits may fall short,” explained Mike Hamlar. “We are thrilled to be donating all of the proceeds of the 2016 Mike Hamlar Annual Golf Tournament to Veteran MX.”
Players can still register for the tournament as a single registrant for $125 or in groups of four for $400 at www.mikehamlar.com. Registered golfers will receive 18 holes of golf at Hunting Hills Country Club, a golf cart rental and refreshments.
The 2016 Hamlar tournament planning committee is hoping to raise enough support to help the Veteran’s MX Foundation purchase 5 new dirt bikes and related rider protective gear. This additional equipment will help the organization to offer free training and support to more deserving local veterans in each 3-month session.
“It is our pleasure to partner with Mike Hamlar and to participate in this Annual Golf Tournament,” said VET MX Co-Founder, Cody Blankenship. “We have seen first-hand the value of this program on the every day lives of our veteran participants and are honored to have the community come together to support our efforts to expand the VET MX program. We are looking forward to expanding our community impact in the years to come.”
About the Mike Hamlar Annual Golf Tournament
The Mike Hamlar Annual Golf Tournament returns for its 2nd year running to the Roanoke area. Former Virginia Senate Candidate Michael Lawrence Hamlar, MBA will host the 2016 golf tournament to support Veterans MX.
After the 2015 election, Hamlar has continued his community efforts by starting a Statewide Political Action Committee (PAC), supporting workforce development opportunities, and working to improve access to healthcare and Career and Technical Education (CTE).
About Veteran MX
When a deserving vet is sponsored into the program, they enter a 3-month comprehensive training program designed to teach them the art and science of motocross from the ground-up. The Vet MX program provides custom bikes, prosthetics, and professional training as needed to effectively train and empower participants to embark on life’s next great adventure – coming away with Healthier lifestyle habits,· Therapeutic techniques for pain management and mental recovery and the renewed sense of personal value that comes with clear, measurable physical and mental accomplishments
Additionally, graduates will leave the program with the skills required to enter beginner and veteran class competitive motocross events, to continue riding as a form of personal therapy, as well as are provided the opportunity to volunteer as a future program sponsor, coach or champion.
