H*5098 Resolution, By Walker
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR SAGEN BLACKWELL, OF SPARTANBURG
 COUNTY, FOR HER SERVICE TO TRAUMATICALLY-INJURED SOLDIERS THROUGH THE NATIONAL
 WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT, AND TO CONGRATULATE HER FOR ORGANIZING THE SUCCESSFUL
 CAROLINAS CHALLENGE BIKE RIDE IN SPARTANBURG.

   04/30/08  House  Introduced and adopted HJ-1

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR SAGEN BLACKWELL, OF SPARTANBURG COUNTY, FOR HER SERVICE TO TRAUMATICALLY-INJURED SOLDIERS THROUGH THE NATIONAL WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT, AND TO CONGRATULATE HER FOR ORGANIZING THE SUCCESSFUL CAROLINAS CHALLENGE BIKE RIDE IN SPARTANBURG.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are grateful to learn of the work of Sagen Blackwell on behalf of injured American soldiers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan; and

Whereas, a fifteen-year-old home-schooled ninth grader and a member of the Middle Tyger YMCA in Duncan, Sagen Blackwell actively supports injured American soldiers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan by raising money for them and focusing public attention on the challenges they face; and

Whereas, she speaks frequently to churches and organizations about the Wounded Warrior Project, which helps traumatically-injured soldiers and their families; and

Whereas, she has raised fifty thousand dollars in monetary and in-kind donations for the Wounded Warrior Project through solicitations and through the Carolinas Challenge, a charity bike ride which she organized; and

Whereas, held in Spartanburg on October 21, 2007, the Carolinas Challenge is under the auspices of the Soldier Ride of the Wounded Warrior Project, a national rehabilitative cycling program for wounded warriors; and

Whereas, the efforts of Sagen Blackwell in organizing the Carolinas Challenge added registered fundraiser rides to Soldier Ride and allowed the general public to ride along with the wounded veterans and to raise money for the national Wounded Warrior Project; and

Whereas, the goal of this year's ride was to raise ten thousand dollars, but it has raised almost twenty-seven thousand dollars; and

Whereas, she also supported wounded South Carolina veterans participating in the April 23-27, 2008, Soldier Ride White House to Lighthouse Challenge and visited with soldiers at Walter Reed Army Hospital as part of her work with the Wounded Warrior Project; and

Whereas, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Steve Blackwell, she was recognized for her outstanding volunteer service to these projects by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Sagen Blackwell, of Spartanburg County, for her service to traumatically-injured soldiers through the national Wounded Warrior Project, and congratulate her for organizing the successful Carolinas Challenge bike ride in Spartanburg.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Sagen Blackwell.