Marywood student veterans' fitness-focused event benefits veterans nonprofit

April 07-- Apr. 7--SCRANTON -- As an Army veteran, Chris Smith knows firsthand that physical fitness is a major focus of day-to-day life in the military and can help veterans in a variety of ways after they complete their service.

On Saturday, Smith, the director of military and veteran services at Marywood University, the school's Student Veteran Alliance and other community partners teamed up to present Operation Peaceful Warrior, a daylong exercise program meant to raise money for a good cause.

All donations collected at the free event, which featured yoga, nutrition and self-defense classes and more, supports Warrior Strong Inc., a fitness-focused nonprofit based in Scranton that's working to establish an "adaptive training facility" for area veterans, especially those who have lost limbs.

The facility would house weightlifting equipment and high-intensity interval training equipment, and provide space for various exercise and martial arts classes, among others, Warrior Strong board Chairman Roberto Bracero said.

Bracero, Smith and Nicholas Nebraski, an Army combat veteran and president of Marywood's Student Veteran Alliance, all said physical activity bolsters veterans' physical and mental health, and provides an avenue for the kind of mental health treatment they don't have to visit a Veterans Affairs medical center to receive.

"I think it's a big thing just to have that release," said Nebraski. "Stepping outside of the busy day, not worrying about your mortgage, your bills ... and just saying, 'Hey, I'm going to chill here with some other vets, laugh at the same jokes and we are just going to have a good time. And we're going to release and then we're going to push it.'"

Those involved said they'd like to see the day of exercise eventually grow into something more by gathering together a large number of veterans groups and resources.

"We're hoping that one day, if we get a good foundation set, that we can turn this into more than just a day of physical fitness but also a kind of veterans expo," Smith said. "That way, we have more of a public view of ... who helps with what aspect of life."

For information on Warrior Strong, visit warriorstronginc.org.

Contact the writer:

horvath@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9141;

@jhorvathTT on Twitter

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