American Legion Post 129 has announced that the second-annual Challenge 22 Walk will take place on March 26.
On-site registration starts at 9 a.m. at the Jacksonville Beach Seawalk Pavilion, 75 First St. North, with the program and walk beginning at 10 a.m. The 2.2-mile walk will start at the pavilion lawn and will proceed south along the beach to Oceanfront Park, 429 First St. South, and back.
Walkers are encouraged to pre-register at give.floridalegion.org/challenge22jax. The cost is $22 per walker and $35 to register and receive an event t-shirt.
“Through Challenge 22, we’re not only raising funds to help prevent suicide among our veterans, but also to 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 showed that roughly 22 veterans are dying by suicide each day in our country.”
Legion volunteers are contacting area businesses to solicit event sponsorships and vendors to take part in the event. For sponsorship information, and to download a sponsor form for the event, go to give.floridalegion.org/challenge22jax or contact Legion Post 129 Treasurer Jim Wineland at jimwineland@att.net.
Post 129’s goal is to raise $10,000 to 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.
Locally, American Legion 129 has 30 coalition partners and 10 strategic partners that receive funding to provide veteran prevention services in Northeast Florida.
The local event is one of many held throughout the U.S. as part of The 22 Project, which supports underserved war veterans who have traumatic brain injuries and are at risk for depression or suicide.
The 22 Project provides advanced medical treatments to reduce a veteran’s risk of depression or suicide, including care and evaluation by highly-trained, board-certified physicians. Treatments are at no cost to the veteran.
