JTF is honored to be a part of the Fighting Back for Veterans Campaign, officially announced today. Rocky Bleier in partnership with the Leadership League is releasing a special of edition of his book, Fighting Back. The first 10,000 copies will be hand signed by Rocky and every purchase benefits a Veteran. Below is the official press release.
STEELERS GREAT ROCKY BLEIER RELEASES SPECIAL EDITION OF CLASSIC BOOK FIGHTING BACK and LAUNCHES FIGHTING BACK FOR VETERANS CAMPAIGN
First 10,000 Copies of Book to Be Personally Autographed by Four-Time Super Bowl Champion and Vietnam War Hero
PITTSBURGH, PA (July 31, 2018) -- In conjunction with Leadership League, former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rocky Bleier announced today that he is releasing a special edition of his classic book Fighting Back. He also announced that proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit three military veterans groups -- Veterans Leadership, Joint Training Facility and Legacies Alive -- through a new campaign called Fighting Back for Veterans.
Originally published in 1975 and written by Bleier with Terry O’Neil, Fighting Back chronicles one of the great comebacks in sports history. The story is told by Bleier who, after being seriously wounded during the Vietnam War in 1969, was described by the United States Army as 40 percent disabled. However, against tremendous odds, the former Notre Dame star fought his way back from debilitating injuries and became a four-time Super Bowl champion with the Steelers.
For decades, Fighting Back has served as a shining example of courage, determination, and overcoming life’s toughest challenges. The new, special edition of the book -- officially titled Fighting Back: The Inspirational Journey of American Hero Rocky Bleier -- is now available at FightingBackforVeterans.com and will be available at Steelers Pro Shops and via partner vendors at the start of the NFL season. It will not be available onAmazon.com. The first 10,000 copies will be signed by Bleier -- personally autographed, not stamped or printed on the book. In addition, the dust jacket for the special edition is a rich, soft-touch cover with embossed, gold foil detail.
Fighting Back: The Inspirational Journey of American Hero Rocky Bleier contains two new chapters that were written by longtime Pittsburgh sports columnist Gene Collier. The foreword for the new edition was written by Alejandro Villanueva, a captain in the U.S. Army who served three tours of duty in Afghanistan before pursuing a career in the NFL as an offensive lineman. He achieved that goal when he made the Steelers’ roster in 2015, and he was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2017.
Bleier, a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient, has actively supported causes related to military veterans for many years. The Fighting Back for Veterans campaign is the latest example.
"Being able to share my story with new generations and have proceeds from the sale of the book benefit veterans of the military is a perfect combination," said Bleier, who found out last weekend that he will be added to the Steelers’ Hall of Honor this year. “I’m delighted that the book still resonates more than 40 years after it was first published. Terry O’Neil did a great job helping me tell my story back in 1975, and Gene Collier and Alejandro Villanueva have made the new edition even better than the original.”
Leadership League is partnering with Bleier to publish, promote and distribute the book and to oversee the Fighting Back for Veterans campaign. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Leadership League is a growth development firm that specializes in helping leaders to achieve success and significance. Areas of emphasis include venture development, strategic planning, marketing and communications, event management, and travel management.
“Rocky Bleier is an extraordinary man with an extraordinary story, and Leadership League is honored to join him in this endeavor,” said Damian Williams, the founder and CEO of Leadership League. “This inspirational book is a must-have for everyone -- those who don’t know Rocky’s full story yet and those who want to relive the incredible journey that made him a beloved figure in American sports. It is important to Rocky that proceeds from the sale of the book benefit military veterans. That’s another example of the character of this man, who was a hero on the battlefield and the football field.”
“Legacies Alive is honored to be chosen as a beneficiary of the Fighting Back for Veterans campaign,” said Mark Faldowski, one of the founders of Legacies Alive. “As a leader on the battlefield, gridiron and in life, Rocky knows that the strongest attribute to any organization is people. Our organization stands with Rocky and this monumental campaign to support our heroes and their families who have given so much for our country.”
For more information about Fighting Back: The Inspirational Journey of American Hero Rocky Bleier and the Fighting Back for Veterans campaign, or to arrange an interview with Rocky, members of the media should contact Jim Lachimia at (412) 708-9301 or jlatch@zoominternet.net. The official website for the Fighting Back for Veterans campaign is FightingBackForVeterans.com.