I'm proud to be climbing Denali with one of my best friends to raise money and awareness for Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. TAPS provides direct support to families who have been impacted by a death in the military regardless of geography or circumstance. They also serve families of federal contractors. Tony Lutes, an Air Force Brat, is joining me on my three-week trek up North America's highest mountain, Denali.

I'm the third generation of my family to answer the call to military service. It was my privilege to serve in the Army’s 1st Ranger Battalion from 2001 to 2004 with multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. During my service I was awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.

Since separating from the military, I earned degrees that set me on a new career path: peacekeeping. Now I work for PAE (www.pae.com), a federal services contractor, to support the work of the U.S. government in Africa. They're a strong supporter of TAPS, and they're matching the funds I raise up to $5,000. And for my PAE fellow employees, anyone who donates -- no matter the amount -- will be entered into a drawing for gift cards of $150, $100 and $50.

The funds I raise will flow directly into TAPS programming which supports these families through an amazing network of resources, seminars and publications. TAPS provides these services at no charge to survivors from all branches of the service, including Reserves and National Guard. TAPS’ programs and services are available not only for immediate family, but also for extended family and friends. Please help me honor our fallen heroes by supporting me in this effort. No donation is too big or too small.
Thank you!