Cooper finishes 222-mile ruck march, raises $16,190 for homeless vets

The Rev. John Cooper Jr., executive director of Niagara Gospel Mission, has finished his 222-mile ruck march to raise funds to expand the RECON recovery program for homeless veterans in Western New York. He raised $16,190.

“I am overwhelmed by the support of the community to help expand our RECON recovery program and care for our veterans,” Cooper said.

On Feb. 22, Cooper set out to ruck (walking with a weighted pack) 222 miles to raise funds and awareness to help homeless veterans in the area. The number of miles and date were in honor of the unit he was deployed with in Afghanistan while in the Army, the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, out of Fort Drum. At 11 a.m. March 29, Cooper finished his march at the Veterans Memorial in Niagara Falls.

“I wanted to end it at a place that represented why I did the march in the first place,” he said.

Cooper said he chose rucking because it symbolizes what the men who come to the Niagara Gospel Mission are going through.

“Rucking is carrying a heavy pack on your back for miles. This is exactly what the homeless veterans of Western New York are going through as they come to us with all their belongings on their backs,” he said.

The money raised will be used to expand the Niagara Gospel Mission’s RECON program, a faith-based recovery program; and to redesign the Liberty Suite, a shelter dedicated to homeless veterans. Cooper said 75% of all the veterans who come to the Niagara Gospel Mission desire to come to the RECON program. With this expansion, the agency will be able to serve six more individuals.

“A few months after I got out of the Army, I experienced losing almost everything and had to sell my home and move,” Cooper said. “It was a heavy stress on my family as I was under 30 and was facing being a homeless veteran. I want to make sure we provide a space to not only help those who fall on tough times, but to give them the relationships, skills and encouragement to make lasting changes in their lives. Your support has made that possible.”

Located at 1317 Portage Road, Niagara Gospel Mission is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit providing services to the homeless and poor. Visit niagaragospemission.org to learn more about current services, and plans to develop services for homeless women.