Local Veteran's Legacy: Aurora Car Show Aims To Save Lives, 1 Service Dog At A Time

AURORA, IL — In the four years since they lost him to PTSD, the family of CPL Brandon Meyers is working to help other veterans like him. Through the non-profit Bubba's Dogs For Warriors, mom Wendy Meyers is working to servicemen and women with therapy dogs in the hopes of saving lives. On July 9, the organization will host the 4th Annual Brandon Meyers Memorial Car Show.

Brandon Meyers — known to family and friends as "Bubba," was just 25 years old when he took his own life on June 28, 2013. A 2016 analysis from the Department of Veterans Affairs estimated that 20 veterans commit suicide each day in the United States — and other estimates put the number even higher, according to Bubba's Dog's For Warriors.

"We’ve poured our broken hearts into research and found the highest degree of treatment success can come in the form of a constant companion — a dog, a service dog," Wendy Meyers said on the Bubba's Dogs For Warriors page. "Training these PTSD dogs is expensive, up to $15,000. In our son’s memory, we’d like to save lives ... Our goal is to fund the training of two to save two lives. This proven method is *not* covered by the government." (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

A GoFundMe campaign launched in Brandon's memory has raised more than $37,000 to date. Bubba's Dogs For Warriors works with Manteno-based non-profit 1Pet1Vet link veterans with specially trained therapy dogs.

"We match a veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of combat military service with a carefully selected canine," according to 1Pet1Vet. "One in 5 veterans suffer from PTSD, and 1 in 6 will attempt suicide or have suicidal tendencies. Service dogs are a proven recovery tool for these invisible disorders."

Car show

Area residents are invited to attend the 4th Annual Brandon Meyers Memorial Car Show, slated for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Foundry, 85 Executive Drive in Aurora.

There's no charge for spectators, and a $20 admission fee ($10 for veterans) to show off your classic cars. Motorcycles are also welcome.

The event includes raffles, a silent auction, prizes and a live DJ. Find more information on the CPL Brandon Meyers Memorial Car Show event page.

Image via GoFundMe