Dale's Southlake Pharmacy

Local Pharmacies Help Wounded Warriors for Memorial Day

Contact: Lauren Young/217-429-5165

May 4, 2014- Decatur, IL-Former Illinois House Representative and local pharmacist, Ron Stephens is teaming up with independent pharmacies across Illinois to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project. The Wounded Warrior Project raises public awareness about the needs of injured service members, helps injured service men and women aid and assist each other, and provides unique, direct programs and services to help meet their needs.

Stephens is going to walk from Dale’s Southlake Pharmacy in Decatur to Dale’s new pharmacy, Colee’s Corner Drugs, in Forsyth, IL. Stephens will then walk to each of the Doc’s Pharmacy and Sartoris Drugs locations on his way to the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Ill. Stephens has agreed to walk a mile for every $100 that is raised by Dale’s Southlake Pharmacy, Colee’s Corner Drugs, Doc’s Pharmacy and Sartoris Drugs.

Pharmacist Stephens served in the US Army during the war in Vietnam. In 1970, he was wounded while leading a patrol in the Central Highlands. "I'm grateful for everything that was done for me", says Stephens. "I had suffered a traumatic brain injury and didn't even know what PTSD was, although, I would prove to be a classic case." "Today's wounded warriors and their families deserve better!"

Erica Colee, PharmD, the daughter of Dale and Rita Colee, Pharmacist-in-Charge at Colee's Corner Drugs, says it's appropriate that we support the Wounded Warrior Project. "Only about 1% of Americans are serving in the Armed Forces, it seems to me that for those who are wounded, the rest of us can give a little to help them and their families."

In honor of Memorial Day and our Wounded Warriors, Dale's Southlake Pharmacy will be collecting donations at their locations in South Shores, and Forsyth during the month of May. Ron will kick-off his walk from Dale's Southlake Pharmacy, stop at Colee's Corner Drugs in Forsyth, before continuing north towards the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.

Please help us give back to the men and women that have been injured while serving our country this Memorial Day. All monetary donations raised will be matched by the Cardinal Health Foundation, the charitable arm for Cardinal Health, which serves as the pharmaceutical distributor for both Doc’s and Dale’s Southlake pharmacies. All proceeds will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project. The Wounded Warrior Project is a tax-exempt 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization.