Chicago veterans are set to launch their biggest fundraiser of the year later this month just before Memorial Day, according to FOX 32 Chicago. The Chicago Veterans Ruck March raises money for veterans in need and spreads awareness of PTSD which impacts the lives of many of our nation’s heroes. Carlos Vega, the Veteran Outreach and Events Coordinator, shared that the Ruck March supports veterans and gives them an opportunity to honor a lost soldier.
The Chicago Veterans Ruck March is an event that helps “raise awareness of suicide prevention efforts and fight to reduce the stigma around mental health.” This year, veterans, family members and friends from across the country will walk, run, or bike 17 miles in honor of the 17 veterans lost each day to suicide, a decrease from the number of 22 a few years ago. There are several ways to support veterans through the Ruck March event including registering to participate, sponsoring the event, creating a fundraising page, or volunteering to help with social media, advertising, and photography.
Funds raised through the event will support veteran programs that help to “maintain the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of Veterans by seeking to reduce depression, stress, anxiety, building confidence, and socialize effectively.” Through their events, Chicago Veterans connects veterans with one another and various organizations that may help them recover and thrive.
Army veteran Armando Vega, the organizer of Veterans in Recovery shared that “it’s all about paying it forward, helping others and ain’t nothing better than helping another brother or sister veteran.” Building a supportive community is an essential part of the healing process, and the outpouring of support from family and friends for our veterans is sure to help warm the hearts of our nation’s heroes and remind them that they are loved, appreciated, and remembered.