Veteran and Military Suicide Prevention

What we’re doing:

On September 22, a group of 22 of us are going to attempt to complete what we’re calling the #22hardcore challenge. The challenge requires doing 22 push-ups, on average, every 2 minutes, for 22 rounds (484 total in 44 minutes) to offer help, raise awareness and raise funding for veteran and military suicide prevention. And we’re going to livestream it on our social media.


You may have heard of the “22 push-up challenge.” The challenge is simple, and meaningful: it is a commitment to posting a video of oneself doing 22 push-ups per day, once per day, for 22 straight days to raise awareness for veteran and military suicide prevention. 

We’ve all done the original 22 push-up challenge, some of us have done it every year since it began trending, but the push-ups aren’t helping to reduce the number of veteran and military suicides. Small pebbles don’t make a big splash and we as a nation haven’t solved the problem. So this year we are determined to make a bigger collective splash as a group. 
 

Why it matters:

This event has become a testament to the power of having the courage to reach out. It started with just one veteran, me, who reached out to a friend for help with this idea. He joined me. Then more heard about the cause, and they also came on board to help. Just four weeks later, there were 22 of us. We want to show people this example, the power of having the courage to reach out. If we can inspire others to know there are people just like them out there who care, we believe we can save lives. The ripple effect of one person asking for help; and another person offering help, cannot be understated. 
 

Why September 22:

22 veterans and military members take their own lives every day. September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Many have lost someone we love to suicide. Many have spent long nights trying to save someone we love from taking their own life. Many have had to find the courage to reach out for help at some point. September 22 is the most meaningful day during National Suicide Prevention Month for us to take our stand and prevent suicide. 
 

Why we’re doing it:

The purpose of this live spectacle is three fold. First, we want to show people the powerful ripple effect of reaching out for help; and offering help to others. Second, suicide hurts. It’s painful. And we want to make a definitive, collective statement on behalf of the brothers and sisters who need help, and for all those we’ve lost. Because doing this event is going to hurt; but we will not fail.  Third, we are going to raise funds for veteran and military mental health services.
 

Who we are:

Within the group, there are four military branches represented: Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy. Collectively, we are active duty, retired, veterans – disabled and whole, military brats and workout junkies. We are old men in careers where we’ve lost far too many, and far too young.