National Veterans Foundation

HBO^® is spearheading a Troop Drive this summer to deliver care packages to troops destined for Iraq and Afghanistan. Consumers are encouraged to show their support to the troops, free of charge, by visiting a product gallery at www.genkilltroopdrive.com and selecting items from participating brands to add to the care packages. HBO and its brand partners will cover the cost of the contributions, giving you an easy way to show their support by sending items in your name. The troop drive is scheduled to coincide with the July 13, 2008 premiere of the original miniseries from HBO Films^®, Generation Kill^SM. The seven-part series airs on Sundays, at 9PM through Aug. 24.

HBO^® and Generation Kill^SM are service marks for Home Box Office, Inc.

Final Report

Here is the Final Report and Acknowledgements regarding the GRUEL-A-THON: Dan Hanson's solo, unsupported attempt to bicycle 1000 Miles in 5 Days for the National Veterans Foundation. I am writing this to includes coverage of the remainder of the LAST DAY, after my 5:30 pm Report was phoned in from the road to the Beautiful Laurie Casserly, GRUEL-A-THON Gal and Staff Reporter.

Weather: Beautiful, partly cloudy day. Cooler than usual temperatures. Wind finally died off.

Tire/Tube Flats: One after dark. (TOTAL Tire/Tube Flats: Three.)

People or Events of Interest: At about 11:30 pm, I became too tired to ride through the night. Despite having chugged several "energy drink" products, I began to fall asleep on the bike. I stopped under a sheltered, lit entryway of church and set an alarm to wake soon enough to complete the remaining 70 miles. At 12:45 pm, I was awakened by a local Police Officer responding to a call of a "suspicious character". The Police Officer's disposition eventually became friendly and then he had many questions about the gear needed to bicycle 1,000 miles in 5 days. At 2:15 am, I began riding again but could only achieve a top speed of about 9 mph and began to shiver continuously in the cool night temperatures. At 4:15 am, I had to stop and crawl into my sleeping bag to wait for the warmer temperatures that sunrise brings. At 6:00 am, it was warm enough for me to begin riding without shivering. With about 50 miles to go in the daylight, I found that I only had enough left in me to ride an average of about 10 mph.

Focus Features invites you to Patricia Foulkrod's The Ground Truth: Real Stories from Iraq Vets about the realities of war.

National Veterans Foundation's 20th Anniversary Documentary