We enjoy living in our homes, sleeping well at night, waking up in our comfortable beds every morning, enjoying favorite meals with our loved ones, and breathing freely.
While many may not consider this a luxury, military personnel consider it to be far more than a luxury. This is what these courageous individuals crave every day. In spite of this, they remain resilient and determined to provide a safe place for those who take their freedom for granted. As these strong military forces defend their homeland, people breathe freely without thinking about war erupting or enemies attacking.
Many people may lose their sanity if they go through even a fraction of what the soldiers have to endure daily. The moment they close their eyes for a slumber, they know they might not be able to see the next dawn. This is the kind of uncertainty they have to live through.
Losing their fellow soldiers, imprisonment in a foreign land, getting lost in deep forests, close encounters with death, and witnessing the horrors of war, it is common for military veterans to return home broken, physically, emotionally, and mentally. The time they serve on duty leaves a lasting impression on them. There are only a few who are able to return to civilian life while others suffer for the rest of their lives. It is well known to these veterans that they are too broken to be fixed, and what they believe is the cure for their pain is taking their own lives.
After the end of their duty or retirement, military veterans deserve to be welcomed as heroes. They require support after serving their country for decades. Thankfully, there are many nonprofits dedicated to improving the lives of veterans; the Bailey brothers have come up with a different approach through their Australia-based fundraising platform, Classics for a Cause.
A charity founded by Edward and Tom Bailey, Classics For a Cause raises funds to help veterans take care of their physical and mental health. Taking care of one’s health is crucial for veterans. These health issues, especially their mental state, if left untreated, can lead to suicidal thoughts. Through Classics For a Cause, veterans are equipped with health knowledge and access to quality healthcare.
WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT?
Through Classics For a Cause, veterans can raise money while getting a chance to win a classic car. The Bailey brothers are classic car fanatics and decided to leverage this love into something that would benefit those in need, especially those who have spent the better part of their lives serving the nation. The platform announces giveaways every month where a winner gets a classic car. While offering automotive discounts on car maintenance or restoration with an entry into the giveaway, this platform dedicates a portion of its profits to charities.
These brothers are able to channel their love for classics in the right way through this innovative approach to fundraising. Unlike other mainstream veteran organizations, this fundraising platform allows participants to do something they love while making this world a better place. The platform supports a number of veterans’ charities, including Heroes on the Homefront (HOTH), The Survive to Thrive Program, PTSD Dogs Australia, and Young Veterans.
THE BEGINNING
In 2015, Edward and Tom Bailey founded Veterans Mindfulness Australia to assist veterans in accessing free health services and to raise mental health awareness. This community was established after Tom’s best friend Kerry, a veteran, committed suicide after returning from service. This was when Tom realized the significance of spreading awareness about veterans’ mental health. Since then, Tom and Edward, through this platform, assisted thousands of veterans every month. This community offered veterans meditation sessions, therapy, theory, and mindfulness lessons. In addition, it is free for eligible veterans. But while the brothers operated this platform, they realized there were veterans who could not afford to be a part of this community.
It was at this point that Classics For a Cause was conceptualized. In 2019, they founded the fundraiser to raise awareness and funds for mental health programs for veterans who could not access them. At first, both brothers worked from small offices in their homes; today, they serve thousands of veterans.
A BETTER WORLD FOR THE VETERANS
Classics For Cause has successfully donated over $ 1 million within its first ten months, a huge milestone for the company. Tom Bailey, the co-founder and CEO stated, “we had never seen numbers like that before, and it was an awesome number to hit after not even a year of operating – we knew from that point we’re really onto something good and going to make a big impact in the veteran community.” Tom and Edward have huge plans for this platform. When asked about the future of Classics, Tom stated, “we hope to donate over 10million dollars to veteran charities and continue to help thousands of veterans every month with all their health needs. To give away over 40 classic cars a year back to our supporters.” He added, “we want to open five veteran super clinics in the Southeast Queensland area and help more veterans with their healthcare needs on a face-to-face basis. Build 10 more veteran medical vans and service veterans in rural and remote areas. Pattern and build 4 veteran hospitals to service veterans with higher clinical needs with inpatient and outpatient programs.”
Classics not only gives away more cars than any other company, but it also donates more to charity. To ensure effectiveness, the team at Classics is directly involved with the charities to ensure they are helping Aussie veterans in the most optimal way possible. Undoubtedly, Classics For a Cause is bringing an entirely new concept into fundraising, contributing significantly to reducing the number of veteran suicides in the country.
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