STAMFORD, Conn.– SoldierStrong, the national nonprofit committed to delivering revolutionary medical technologies to America’s veterans, brought its mission to the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs Sunday, as the organization’s logo rode on Ty Dillon’s No. 10 Kaulig Racing entry in the Enjoy Illinois 300 presented by TicketSmarter at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill. The placement was donated by Patriot Mobile, a longtime supporter of the organization.

Before the green flag, Staff Sergeant Bryce Cherryholmes, USMC (Ret.), a SoldierStrong Ambassador, met Dillon and demonstrated the SoldierSuit, the wearable robotic exoskeleton that allows him to stand and walk despite paralysis.

Cherryholmes served eight years in the Marine Corps with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, sustaining a back injury that ultimately required a four-level spinal fusion. Complications from that surgery left him paralyzed and told he had a 5-percent chance of walking again.

“I’ve done this in arenas and ballparks, but a NASCAR garage is something else,” Cherryholmes said. “These are people who understand what it takes to build something that moves. When I stand up, they get it right away. And if one veteran watching at home found out this technology exists because of Sunday, that makes the whole trip even more worth it.”

“Sunday was a gift, and Patriot Mobile gave it to us,” said Dr. Chris Meek, co-founder and chairman of SoldierStrong. “We are incredibly grateful for their support. They had a car in a playoff race and they used it to point at somebody else’s mission. Because of them, hundreds of thousands of people saw our name, and the ones who look it up will find out what a SoldierSuit does for a veteran who was told he’d never walk again.”

Patriot Mobile was named SoldierStrong’s 2025 Corporate Recipient of the Annual Commitment to Service Award, presented to companies and individuals who demonstrate exemplary leadership and provide material support to the organization’s mission. CEO Glenn Story accepted the award on the company’s behalf in November 2025. The company has also hosted Cherryholmes for a live SoldierSuit demonstration at its offices in Grapevine, Texas.

SoldierStrong donates two signature technologies to Veterans Affairs medical facilities and individual veterans nationwide: the SoldierSuit, a wearable robotic exoskeleton that helps injured and paralyzed veterans stand and walk again, and the BraveMind virtual reality system used to treat post-9/11 veterans living with post-traumatic stress. To date, the organization has donated more than $7.3 million in revolutionary medical technologies, including 32 SoldierSuits and 34 BraveMind systems.

To learn more or support the mission, visit SoldierStrong.org.

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About SoldierStrong
Since 2009, SoldierStrong has assisted America’s military veterans in taking their next steps forward in life after service. Their mission is fully realized through the donation of revolutionary medical technology to Veterans Affairs medical facilities and individual veterans across the country. These revolutionary medical technologies include the SoldierSuit, a wearable robotic exoskeleton used to help paralyzed and injured veterans walk again, and the BraveMind virtual reality system used to treat post-9/11 veterans living with the devastating impacts of post-traumatic stress (PTS). To date, SoldierStrong has donated more than $7.3 million in advanced medical technology, including 32 SoldierSuits and 34 BraveMind systems. For more information, visit soldierstrong.org.

About Patriot Mobile
Patriot Mobile is America’s ONLY Christian conservative wireless provider. Since 2013, Patriot Mobile has given Americans a conservative alternative for their cell service by providing dependable nationwide coverage on 4G and 5G networks and exceptional U.S.-based customer support. Patriot Mobile gives a portion of every dollar to support organizations that fight for our freedom. Patriot Mobile’s mission is to passionately defend our God-given rights and freedoms, and to glorify God always. For more information, visit www.patriotmobile.com.

United Rentals Inc., the world’s largest equipment rental company, today announced that its sponsorship of the Graham and Courtney Rahal Foundation’s 2026 Drivers Tournament raised $125,000 for SoldierStrong, a national nonprofit organization assisting America’s injured veterans in taking their next steps forward. Held on Thursday, May 21 at Brickyard Crossing in Indianapolis, IN, the event was a remarkable testament to the generous support of participants, sponsors, and donors who came together to benefit the nation’s veterans.

“We are deeply grateful to both United Rentals and the Graham & Courtney Rahal Foundation for their extraordinary partnership and commitment to our nation’s veterans,” said Dr. Chris Meek, Co-Founder and Chairman of SoldierStrong. “United Rentals’ incredible generosity enables us to provide life-changing technologies that help injured veterans regain mobility, independence, and hope. And Graham and Courtney’s exceptional leadership in raising $125,000 at this year’s tournament reminds us of what we can accomplish when champions in business and racing come together for those who have sacrificed so much. We are honored to work alongside both organizations in making a tangible difference in the lives of our nation’s heroes and their families.”

The Drivers Tournament has become a cornerstone fundraising event for Turns For Troops, United Rentals’ veteran-focused initiative that benefits SoldierStrong. Through the Turns For Troops program the company has donated more than $2.7 million to support the recovery of America’s injured veterans since 2017. This year’s results reflect the deep commitment of the racing community and corporate partners to honoring those who have served.

“We’re proud to partner with the Graham and Courtney Rahal Foundation in support of America’s veterans,” said Craig Schmidt, Senior Vice President, National Accounts, United Rentals. “This tournament shows what’s possible when our two organizations bring people together for a cause that matters. We’re grateful to everyone who contributed, and to SoldierStrong for putting these funds directly to work for veterans who deserve this support.”

The Graham and Courtney Rahal Foundation (GCRF), led by IndyCar driver Graham Rahal and former NHRA star Courtney (Force) Rahal, is committed to enhancing the lives of veterans and advancing cancer research, supporting programs that deliver vital resources, create transformative opportunities, and drive meaningful, long-term impact.

“Year after year, we are blown away by the incredible support shown at our annual Drivers Tournament. It is a true example of community in action, bringing people together with a shared commitment to making a difference for those who have served our country,” said Graham and Courtney Rahal. “We are honored to stand alongside SoldierStrong, providing meaningful support to our veterans and helping them overcome challenges with strength and resilience.”

SoldierStrong is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to help America’s military veterans take their next steps forward in life after service through the donation of revolutionary medical technologies to Veterans Affairs medical facilities and individual veterans across the country.

The technologies SoldierStrong donates include the SoldierSuit, wearable robotic exoskeletons used to help injured and paralyzed veterans stand and walk again, and the BraveMind virtual reality system used to treat post-9/11 veterans living with the devastating impacts of post- traumatic stress (PTS), as well as other types of advanced technologies. To date, SoldierStrong has donated 32 SoldierSuits and 32 BraveMind systems, valued at more than $7.3 million, to Veterans Affairs medical facilities and individual veterans.

SoldierStrong Ambassador Sgt. Dan Rose was present at the Drivers Tournament to demonstrate to attendees how he uses the SoldierSuit to walk despite paralysis. Rose received SoldierStrong’s first donation of the SoldierSuit in 2013. 

“The SoldierSuit changed my life, and thanks to United Rentals and the Rahal Foundation’s incredible support, more veterans will get that chance,” said Sgt. Dan Rose. “This $125,000 donation will put advanced medical technology directly into the hands of those who have served our nation.”

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About United Rentals

United Rentals, Inc. is the largest equipment rental company in the world. The company has an integrated network of 1,639 rental locations in North America, 41 in Europe, 40 in Australia and 19 in New Zealand. In North America, the company operates in 49 states and every Canadian province. The company’s approximately 27,900 employees serve construction and industrial customers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners and others. The company offers a fleet of equipment for rent with a total original cost of $22.82 billion. URI is a member of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, the Barron’s 400 Index and the Russell 3000 Index® and is headquartered in Stamford, Conn.

About Graham and Courtney Rahal Foundation

The Graham and Courtney Rahal Foundation (GCRF) is a 501c3 tax-exempt organization led by IndyCar driver Graham Rahal and former NHRA star Courtney (Force) Rahal. The foundation is committed to enhancing the lives of our Veteran Community and advancing cancer research, supporting programs that deliver vital resources, create transformative opportunities, and drive meaningful, long-term impact. Through signature fundraising initiatives, including high-impact charity events, auctions, and community partnerships, GCRF has contributed millions of dollars toward organizations that are creating lasting change. For more information about the Graham and Courtney Rahal Foundation, please visit gcrfoundation.org or follow @GCRFoundation on social media.

About SoldierStrong

Since 2009, SoldierStrong has assisted America’s military veterans in taking their next steps forward in life after service. Our mission is fully realized through the donation of revolutionary medical technology to Veterans Affairs medical facilities and individual veterans across the country. These revolutionary medical technologies include the SoldierSuit, a wearable robotic exoskeleton used to help paralyzed and injured veterans walk again, and the BraveMind virtual reality system used to treat post-9/11 veterans living with the devastating impacts of post-traumatic stress (PTS). To date, SoldierStrong has donated more than $7.3 million in advanced medical technology, including 32 SoldierSuits and 32 BraveMind systems. For more information, visit soldierstrong.org.

SOLDIERSTRONG DONATES TWO REAL® IMMERSIVE SYSTEMS TO PALO ALTO VA TO ADVANCE VETERAN REHABILITATION

STAMFORD, Conn. – SoldierStrong, a national nonprofit committed to donating revolutionary medical technology to assist injured veterans in taking their next steps forward in life after service, today announced the donation of two REAL® Immersive Systems to the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System.

The donations will support U.S. military veterans receiving care at the VA Palo Alto by providing immersive healthcare technology designed to aid in physical and cognitive rehabilitation. The REAL® Immersive System leverages virtual reality (VR) and full-body tracking sensor technology to deliver engaging, interactive therapeutics that help patients build functional skills, improve mobility, and enhance overall wellness.

“By bringing immersive technology into our rehabilitation setting, we’re expanding the ways Veterans can engage in their recovery. These tools open new avenues to support therapeutic work and broaden the treatments available across our health care system,” said Jean J. Gurga, MA, OTR/L, Executive Medical Center Director of the VA Palo Alto Health Care System.

The REAL® Immersive System is designed for use across a wide range of rehabilitation needs, from high-acuity to high-functioning patients. It supports both physical and occupational therapy through activities targeting upper and lower extremities, balance, coordination, cognition, and activities of daily living. With full-body sensors, clinicians can track patient movement and progress in real time, allowing for personalized and adaptive therapy.

Virtual reality continues to transform the rehabilitation landscape, particularly for post-9/11 veterans who are often more familiar with interactive digital environments. By incorporating immersive technology into treatment plans, clinicians can increase patient engagement and adherence, leading to better outcomes.

“SoldierStrong is committed to ensuring that our nation’s veterans have access to the most advanced rehabilitation tools available,” said Dr. Chris Meek, co-founder and chairman of SoldierStrong. “By bringing REAL Immersive Systems to the VA Palo Alto, we are equipping clinicians with innovative technology that can motivate patients, accelerate recovery, and ultimately improve quality of life.”

This donation is part of SoldierStrong’s broader mission to provide state-of-the-art medical technologies to veterans and VA medical centers across the country. To date, SoldierStrong has donated more than $7.3 million in revolutionary devices, including wearable robotic exoskeletons known as “SoldierSuits,” which help paralyzed veterans stand and walk, and the BraveMind virtual reality system used to treat veterans living with post-traumatic stress (PTS).

In a 2023 interview with U.S. Medicine, a publication for healthcare professionals in the Department of Veterans Affairs, Mark Havran, DPT, a national physical therapy executive for the VA and chief of Extended Care and Rehabilitation at the VA Central Iowa Healthcare System in Des Moines, said, “The technology is visionary. We foresee this will allow an extension of our clinics and education tools beyond brick and mortar. The patient, the caregiver and the interdisciplinary team will be able to improve access, functional outcomes, and [there will be] less downstream costs while having a mix of services available.”

With the addition of the REAL® Immersive Systems, the VA Palo Alto will further enhance its ability to deliver innovative, patient-centered care to the veterans it serves.

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About SoldierStrong

SoldierStrong assists U.S. military veterans in taking their next steps forward in life after service. Through educational scholarships and by harnessing the most innovative technology in advanced rehabilitation, we help returning service men and women move in the only direction they should know – forward. Nearly every dollar SoldierStrong receives goes towards support of veterans so that they can better transition to and thrive in civilian life. Our organization works to remind veterans who have sacrificed so much that we are forever thankful. For more information, visit: https://www.soldierstrong.org/.

About Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System

VA Palo Alto health care is part of VA Sierra Pacific Network (VISN 21), which serves Veterans in northern and central California, Nevada, Hawaii, the Philippines, and U.S. territories in the Pacific Basin. VA Palo Alto consists of 3 inpatient facilities located at Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Livermore, in addition to 4 community-based outpatient clinics in San Jose, Capitola, Marina, and Fremont, as well as 2 residential homes for Veterans in the Compensated Work Therapy program. For more information, visit https://www.va.gov/palo-alto-health-care. 

The Captain James A. Lovell Health Care Center in North Chicago, Illinois, is the country’s latest Department of Veterans Affairs facility to partner with national nonprofit SoldierStrong to provide a groundbreaking virtual reality exposure therapy system known as BraveMind to aid in treating post-9/11 veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress (PTS). 

SoldierStrong, a Stamford, Conn.-based organization dedicated to helping veterans take their next steps forward in life after service by connecting them with revolutionary medical technologies donated to VA medical centers and other facilities across the country, has donated the BraveMind system to the Lovell Federal Health Care Center to combat the national daily average of 17 veteran suicides.

Since SoldierStrong’s inception following the tragic events of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the organization has donated more than $7.3 million worth of medical devices that directly help injured veterans. Aside from the BraveMind systems, the organization also donates robotic exoskeleton suits to help paralyzed and injured veterans walk again and iBOT® powered mobility wheelchairs. This donation of virtual reality technology to Lovell Federal Health Care Center is the 32nd BraveMind system donated to a VA or partner facility since late 2019. 

Co-founder and chairman Dr. Chris Meek said SoldierStrong’s goal to make medical devices, including the BraveMind system, available in as many states as possible was a significant factor in the donation. This is the first BraveMind virtual reality system in the state, making its treatment accessible to Illinois’ veterans for the first time.

“Expanding access to innovative, evidence-based care for our veterans is at the heart of everything we do at SoldierStrong,” said Meek. “By bringing the BraveMind system to the Captain James A. Lovell Health Care Center, the first of its kind in Illinois, we are ensuring that more veterans have access to a powerful tool that can help them confront and process trauma in a safe, controlled environment. Every step we take to increase access to this technology is a step toward reducing veteran suicide and helping our nation’s heroes reclaim their lives.”

The virtual reality technology behind BraveMind was developed by Dr. Albert “Skip” Rizzo and his team at the University of Southern California’s Institute for Creative Technologies. The technology creates 14 “worlds” of combat scenarios, from a desert roadway to a crowded Iraqi marketplace or a slum in an Afghan city. Therapists select a world based on a Veteran’s traumatic experience and customize it in the virtual reality headset, thus placing Veterans back within the midst of that memory at a pace they can handle.

“Utilizing the virtual reality technology in BraveMind gets Veterans to talk about things they’ve never talked to anyone about before,” Rizzo said. “Those memories don’t have the same emotional power that they did before because repeatedly experiencing those troubling memories in a safe environment reduces the brain’s response to them. Patients start to feel empowered, to feel that they got it out and that they can talk about it.”

The program’s efficacy stems from clinicians’ ability to customize and control the content presented in the headset so precisely from sights, sounds, smells, vibrations ‒ even the weight and tactile sensation of holding a weapon ‒ that can create a patient experience mirroring the traumatic memory.

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About SoldierStrong

Since 2009, SoldierStrong has assisted America’s military veterans in taking their next steps forward in life after service. Our mission is fully realized through the donation of revolutionary medical technology to Veterans Affairs medical facilities and individual veterans across the country. These revolutionary medical technologies include the SoldierSuit, a wearable robotic exoskeleton used to help paralyzed and injured veterans walk again, and the BraveMind virtual reality system used to treat post-9/11 veterans living with the devastating impacts of post-traumatic stress (PTS). To date, SoldierStrong has donated more than $7.3 million in advanced medical technology, including 32 SoldierSuits and 31 BraveMind systems. For more information, visit soldierstrong.org. 

 

About Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center

The Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center is the nation’s first fully integrated medical facility between the VA and the Department of War, serving military members, their families and Veterans. Lovell FHCC, located in North Chicago, operates four Naval Station Great Lakes clinics and three community-based outpatient clinics in McHenry and Evanston, Ill. and Kenosha, Wis.

 

SoldierStrong, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing revolutionary medical technology to America’s veterans, today announced the donation of an ExoSym® Orthosis to Patrick Haber, a Marine Corps veteran and former police officer whose career-ending ankle injury left him with chronic pain and limited mobility.

The ExoSym, available exclusively through Hanger Clinic in Gig Harbor, Washington, is a custom hybrid prosthetic-orthotic device that uses advanced carbon-fiber energy-storing technology to restore function and independence for individuals with severe lower limb injuries.

Haber served in the United States Marine Corps from 2015 to 2020, achieving the rank of Sergeant. During his service, he deployed with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, working as a helicopter mechanic on the UH-1Y, AH-1W, and AH-1Z aircraft. After his honorable discharge, Haber pursued his lifelong dream of serving his community as a police officer, first in North Carolina and then in Arizona.

Just over a year into his patrol career with the Arizona-based police department, Haber sustained a catastrophic injury while chasing a felony suspect on duty. Landing an unexpected six-to-seven-foot drop from a fence, he shattered his ankle and talus bone. Three surgeries over two years failed to restore full function, and Haber was ultimately medically retired from law enforcement.

“I could barely carry groceries up the stairs,” said Haber. “I couldn’t run with my son, couldn’t hike with my wife. I went from training for a full marathon to struggling to walk without pain every single day.”

Now 34 and living in Missouri with his wife and six-year-old son, Patrick has channeled his resilience into rebuilding his life, losing 75 pounds and launching a small sourdough bread business at local farmers markets. But the daily pain persists, and his son’s words remind him of what’s still at stake. “He tells me, ‘Maybe one day we can run together again,'” Haber shared. “That’s what drives me.”

“Working with Ryan Blanck and his team at Hanger Clinic in Gig Harbor, WA was such a great experience,” Haber continued. “They not only helped me overcome physical barriers, but the psychological barriers that developed after my injury. I have nothing but good things to say about my experience, and am truly grateful for SoldierStrong’s generous donation of this device.”

SoldierStrong’s donation of the ExoSym device may help Haber participate in activities that have become difficult since his injury.

“Patrick exemplifies the selfless dedication we see in so many of our nation’s veterans,” said Dr. Chris Meek, co-founder and chairman of SoldierStrong. “He served his country, then continued serving his community as a police officer. When he needed care, we were proud to step in. This is exactly the mission SoldierStrong was built for.”

Since its founding in 2009, SoldierStrong has provided life-changing medical technologies, including wearable robotic exoskeletons to help paralyzed veterans walk again, and BraveMind virtual reality therapy systems to treat post-traumatic stress; and educational scholarships, to veterans across the country. The organization directs the vast majority of every dollar raised directly to programs serving America’s heroes and has donated more than $7.3 million in revolutionary medical technology to date.

To learn more about SoldierStrong or to support its mission, visit SoldierStrong.org.

About SoldierStrong
Since 2009, SoldierStrong has assisted America’s military veterans in taking their next steps forward in life after service. Our mission is fully realized through the donation of revolutionary medical technology to Veterans Affairs medical facilities and individual veterans across the country. These revolutionary medical technologies include the SoldierSuit, a wearable robotic exoskeleton used to help paralyzed and injured veterans walk again, and the BraveMind virtual reality system used to treat post-9/11 veterans living with the devastating impacts of post-traumatic stress (PTS). To date, SoldierStrong has donated more than $7.3 million in advanced medical technology, including 32 SoldierSuits and 32 BraveMind systems. For more information, visit soldierstrong.org.

About the ExoSym®
The ExoSym Kinetic Orthosis is a custom hybrid prosthetic-orthotic device designed and patented by Ryan Blanck, CPO, of Hanger Clinic in Gig Harbor, Washington. A lighter, stronger evolution of the military-developed IDEO (Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis), the ExoSym uses energy-storing carbon-fiber technology to restore mobility for individuals with severe lower limb injuries. The ExoSym Care Program is available exclusively at Hanger Clinic’s Gig Harbor facility. Learn more at HangerClinic.com.