When Eva Casale heads out for a run, the heart-pounding exercise is much more than just a way to stay in shape. As the founder of Team E.V.A., which appropriately stands for “Every Veteran Appreciated,” the Long Island resident pounds the pavement for a number of miles that seems nearly impossible to most in order to raise awareness and funds for a cause close to her heart – veterans, making Nov. 11 even all the more special.

 

With a route along Long Island’s North Shore which included Bayville, Oyster Bay, Glen Cove, Sea Cliff and Locust Valley, Casale and her team covered all 26.2 miles this Veterans Day while laying out flowers and wreaths in honor of our fallen heroes.

 

Similarly, Casale spends each year running a remarkable seven marathons in seven days to honor local servicemen. During this year’s event week-long event, Team E.V.A. delivered over 300 flowers with more than 100 stops at points of honor throughout the island.  Eva and her team are planning the 2022 event to place the week of April 24-30.

 

“The sacrifices that veterans have made for our country is something that can never be matched so I want to bring awareness to them by the best way that I know how, through running,” said Casale. “We live in a free country because of these brave men and women and their selfless families, so anything that my team and I can do to give back to our veterans and to support their families is more than worth any distance.”

 

A few weeks ago, Casale and the team answered the call for help when they donated $2500 to hometown VFW post in Glen Cove after it had caught fire. The funds will be used to assist in the repairs and restoration of VFW Post 347.

 

For more information on Team E.V.A. and to learn of the Team’s upcoming running events or to register for the April 2022 week, visit www.GoTeamEva.org.