American Legion Post 129 and American Legion Riders are hosting the fourth annual Challenge 22 Walk beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, March 23, with net proceeds benefitting veteran suicide prevention programs and services in the beach’s communities.
Walkers can pre-register at https://give.floridalegion.org/ch22jax. The cost is $22 per walker and $35 for registration and an event T-shirt.
On-site registration starts at 8 a.m. Saturday, March 23, at the Jacksonville Beach Seawalk Pavilion, located at 75 First St. North. The program and walk begin at 9 a.m. with a 2.2-mile walk to Oceanfront Park, located at 429 First St. South. Silent auctions, raffles and other activities are planned after the event at Legion Post 129 in Jacksonville Beach from 4 to 8 p.m.
“Through Challenge 22, we raise funds to help prevent suicide among our veterans and also raise awareness about veteran suicide in our beaches communities,” said Post 129 Commander Joe Maichle. “A survey conducted by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs about showed that roughly 22 veterans are dying by suicide each day in our country.”
Locally, American Legion 129 has 30 coalition partners and 12 strategic partners that receive funding to provide veteran suicide prevention services in Northeast Florida.
Current sponsors include Pediatric Eye Consultants of North Florida and Here Tomorrow, a suicide prevention organization in Neptune Beach. Companies that would like to join as sponsors can learn more at https://give.floridalegion.org/challenge22jax or contact Legion Post 129 Treasurer Jim Wineland at jim@iservedmycountry.org.
Post 129 hopes to raise $20,000 through the event, which will be distributed among suicide-prevention groups, treatment providers and nonprofits that help veterans in need of mental health assistance — including the American Legion Department of Florida’s Project VetRelief.
Challenge 22 is part of the 22 Project, which supports underserved war veterans who have traumatic brain injuries and are at risk for depression and/or suicide. In collaboration with physicians, therapists, and health care workers, veterans receive advanced medical treatments including care and evaluation by highly trained, board-certified physicians at no cost to the veteran.
