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Jeremy Heid gave us a view of the services provided by Hero Expeditions, an organization he and his wife Elizabeth started to assist the rehabilitation of “active-duty military, veterans, first responders and families of the fallen”. He told us how they started this Non-Profit to help a friend of his who was struggling after returning home from Iraq. Eric and Liz learned about a program in California that took groups of men needing help to fully function in our communities. They wanted to create a similar program for Colorado.
In 2015 they started Hero Expeditions here in Northern Colorado. In 2024 they helped 130 men participate in outdoor activities in several different groups. Over 1000 individuals have been helped since they started. After participants return to their regular life, contact is continued, if wanted, through an outreach portion of the program. After experiencing an outing, some participants return to volunteer and assist in various capacities as needed. Occasionally youth who have lost family members are included in the outings to help them deal with their grief. These youth also participate as volunteers when it makes sense.
Their Board of Directors provide guidance and support in operations and fundraising. Private funds are raised and occasionally grants are obtained. Participants pay for their own transportation. In the future the program will expand the types of activities offered to include sports outings, off-road activities, gender-specific options, and family units participating together. Thus far in 2025 they have had 45 volunteers and 52 participants. Jeremy said that they have been told that the most difficult struggles are when they are with those to whom they are the closest. He also reminded us to tell these heroes that we appreciate them and what they have done to protect us.