I Walked 111 Miles In November To #StopSoldierSuicide

For those of you who have read this blog for years, or who have known me for a couple of decades, you know of my commitment to #SuicidePrevention. It’s more than just dialing 911 when someone is in extremis, or getting them to call 988 when things get rocky. It’s actively intervening. Never to take away a weapon or something unsafe, but to take the time to talk, give them the ride to the hospital, wait with them while the authorities come to provide the formal aid they need. 

This November I participated in a ruck march (walking with a weighted pack) to #StopSoldierSuicide. I started out with a 41 pound pack, and seeing the donations rolling in hot-and-heavy the first few days, I challenged you all to break the $1500 mark by the end of the first week. If you did, I would walk not 50, but 100 miles. Double the distance.

Well, my childhood buddy, Tom Melin, wrote a big check. I think he secretly wanted me to lose the weight, as he’s a good doctor as well as a great friend. But either way, I was now set to walk 100 miles in November.

 

I managed the first 50 miles with the heavy pack. Once I hit 50, I trimmed the pack to 22 pounds – a pound for every military life lost to suicide each day. An amazingly awful number I hope we conquer. 

I put some photos at the bottom, but the important thing is I raised not only funds, but awareness of the issue. I’d still like to break $3000 in the fundraising, and we’re very close. If you’ve got the money, even a $20 donation from 15 people will put us over the top. Here’s the link to my fundraiser page: https://www.facebook.com/donate/435512842044192/

 

I am humbled by your outpouring of support and love. And I walked the first and last mile of the march talking to my friend Pete Craig. We lost him several years ago to suicide. I still miss him. I might be nuts, but it did feel like we were out for a stroll. 

And now, here are some photos:

 

 

 

November 1, 2022

Company along the way

 

 

 

 

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