Travis Mills serving in Afghanistan.UNIVERSITY CENTER, MI (WNEM) -
Members of the Cardinal Military Association, a registered student organization at Saginaw Valley State University, recently donated $2,000 to support United States Army Staff Seargent Travis Mills, a Vassar native who was critically injured in Afghanistan this April.
Cardinal Military Association president Shaun Yankee, a nursing major from Bay City, spearheaded the fundraising efforts, selling "paracord bracelets," along with T-shirts and key chains on the SVSU campus, collecting more than $1,500 through that fundraiser.
Yankee said Jessica Ostrander, an exercise science major from Mills' hometown of Vassar, pushed for the organization to show its support.
"I had heard about Travis," Yankee said, "but I was just so busy with school that I didn't even think of it until Jessica came to me and said, ‘Hey, do you think there's something we can do?' So, we set up a fundraiser, and it went over really well."
Yankee said Cardinal Military Association members Chelsea Allen, a psychology major from Romulus; David Kochan, an elementary education major from Warren; and Will Smith, a criminal justice major from Freeland; also played leading roles. Fellow group members and other friends and family members participated, as well.
The paracord bracelets were made by SVSU military veterans, active or reserve service members, student family members of a service members and student allies. The strength of the cord demonstrates the strength and endurance of the military; each knot signifies a fallen hero, and the clasp resembles the circle of friends that is never broken.
Support for Travis Mills has poured in from across the state and country since his injury in April, but Yankee said that seeing that support was all the more reason to donate.
"He's got a really positive attitude, and I think he'll pull through it, but the guy could use all the help he can get," Yankee said. "People would stop by and just pitch in five bucks, didn't even need a bracelet or anything, but they'd just throw money our way. I'd say that SVSU and the community really came together."
The Cardinal Military Association is a registered student organization for military students with more than 100 members. It is also an affiliate of the national student organization, Student Veterans of America.
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