SULPHUR — Wounded Warriors Family Support stopped Wednesday in Sulphur as part of its High Five Tour road trip across the United States to raise money for wounded veterans. The nonprofit group is trying to raise $1 million.

To raise money, volunteers drive cars that residents can sign once they’ve made a donation to the group. The car at Quaker Steak and Lube in Sulphur was almost completely filled with signatures and well wishes to veterans.

Bill Bradford, a volunteer and driver of the car, said the trip is on week 16 of 17 in its national journey. It will end with the car pulling in to San Diego on Oct. 22.

“What looks like graffiti all over my car is actually love,” Bradford said. “Somebody cares about a veteran in their family.”

There are various sponsor decals on the car, and those sponsors pay for the volunteers’ lodging, gas and food so that 100 percent of the money raised goes to programs supporting veterans.

One of the things the group does for wounded veterans is send them on a retreat with their family, Bradford said.

“We feel that the more successful a veteran is going to be on recovering to his new life is (dependent) on his family,” he said.

The money also can go toward helping veterans receive instruction to become certified welders or even for vehicle modifications that the VA does not cover.

Quaker Steak and Lube general manager William Alexander donated and signed the 2016 Mustang GT 350. Alexander said the group reached out to the company at a corporate event and he immediately said, “Put me on.”

“It’s something that’s a duty for all of Americans to really honor and push forward instead of it just being a one-day thing,” he said of honoring veterans.

“My grandfather was in World War II, Korean War. My father was in Vietnam. It’s just been something I try to support as much as I possibly can.”

Online: www.highfivetour.com.

—

Follow Shannon Roberts on Twitter at twitter.com/ShannonAmPress

High-Five-DriveRick Hickman