Two weeks after winning Entertainer of the Year at the ACMs, country music star Luke Bryan will be in Chattanooga on Monday to support local foundation Steps2Hope.
The sellout event will celebrate the 30th birthday of its organizer and radio sponsor, U.S. 101, with the proceeds benefitting Steps2Hope and the construction of a new handicap accessible home for U.S. Army Spc. Andrew Smith, who lost both of his legs during his first patrol in Afghanistan in 2012.
The birthday bash with Luke Bryan at Track 29 is sure to add a memorable chapter to U.S. 101’s storied history, officials said. A frequent winner of both ACM and CMA Station of the Year, U.S. 101 has a longstanding legacy of supporting local troops and making a difference in the Chattanooga community.
Steps2Hope is a Chattanooga-based nonprofit aimed at serving those who face traumatic leg injuries. The organization’s founder, David Wilson, suffered severe injuries during a tornado while away at college in 2008. The encouragement of friends and family over Mr. Wilson’s 67 days in the hospital and years of rehab and therapy inspired him and his family to try to fill the same role in lives of others through Steps2Hope.
Steps2Hope’s first project, Team Andrew, has raised money, building materials and volunteers support in preparation for a one-week construction project being designed to put Spc. Smith and his wife, Tori, in their new home on July 4. On March 8, 2012, Spc. Smith stepped on an IED and lost both legs and suffered severe abdominal injuries. Over the last year, he has undergone more than 35 surgeries at Walter Reed Hospital with Tori at his side every step of the way.
Fortunately, Spc. Smith’s determined recovery will allow him to be present at the concert event along with his wife and family.
For more information about Steps2Hope and Spc. Andrew Smith’s story, visit www.Steps2Hope.com