Royal Neighbors of America lent some help to a local woman trying to raise awareness about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
On Saturday, October 4, 2014 Gail Rush, founder of Courtney Jo’s Closet, was presented a $5,000 check for her cause.
Royal Neighbors surprised Rush with the check during the Run for Life 5k run event in Aledo. The funds came from the Nation of Neighbors Program.
According to a spokesperson from Royal Neighbors, Rush lost her daughter, Courtney Jo, to suicide after returning from a second deployment with the U.S. Air Force. Courtney Jo’s Closet was developed to help her through the grief of her loss.
“In addition to raising awareness of military suicide, she is raising funds for a psychiatric service dog through Patriot Rovers, Inc.,” said a Royal Neighbors spokesperson. “The professionally-trained and certified psychiatric service dogs offer lifetime therapeutic companionship for veterans.”
It costs $12,000 annually to train a service dog.
The Nation of Neighbors Program is where members of Royal Neighbors nominate people who help within their communities. More than $1.5 million has been awarded since the program launched in 2007.