PITTSFIELD—Veterans, their friends, family and supporters are marching 200 miles across the Commonwealth to bring awareness to veteran suicide.
A total of 11 members—eight veterans and three community members—from the Warrior Thunder Foundation, a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to helping veterans and raising awareness, will be holding a 200-mile ruck walk called the New England Vet Ruck. The walk is set to travel from Pittsfield to Plymouth and will happen from Aug. 17 to 20.
“The primary thing to do is to raise awareness for veterans in transition,” Darren Bean, retired sergeant major of the US Army and president of the Warrior Thunder Foundation, said.
According to Bean, veterans return back from active duty and struggle with transitioning back into civilian life. In addition, suicide is a very real risk for veterans.
“Twenty veterans a day take their own life, that’s a staggering number,” he said, quoting a number Bean said was provided by the Veterans’ Administration.
These 20 suicides a day will be represented by 10 miles each, totaling the walk’s 200 miles.
A rucksack, like what will be seen on the Vet Ruck New England. (Photo provided by Darren Bean)
With this in mind, Bean said that he and his group will be performing the ruck walk, which is a walk while carrying a backpack, or rucksack. The rucksack is expected to weight 25 to 35 pounds and will be worn for the entirety of the 200-mile trek by the participants. In addition, Bean said that he would be wearing body armor.
“It’s representing the burdens our veterans carry with them,” Bean said. “It’s about how far we will go to carry the burden our veterans are carrying.”
Darren Bean in the body armor that he will wear during the ruck walk. (Photo provided by Darren Bean)
According to Bean, the walk will be along portions of Route 2 in the state and will pass through about 50 cities and towns, including Orange and Athol.
The walk will be nonstop mostly, but there are a few scheduled stops to meet with others, including various politicians and residents in the many municipalities being passed through. Bean said these stops will last for a half hour each. Also, there will be a vehicle following that will allow the participants a chance to rest and refresh as they need.
Bean encouraged people to donate money to the cause, since the money raised will go to an annual wellness retreat in Stockbridge the group provides to veterans and their spouses or significant others.
In addition, those who would like to participate in the walk can join the group for portions of it, as Bean suggested those who would like to can join up with them and walk for a mile.
“We are encouraging people to walk with us and carry that burden with us,” he said.
For more information on how to donate, Bean said you can text “vetruck” to 1(508)433-3557, or you can visit warriorthunderfoundation.org for more information and other events.
