There is a well-documented suicide epidemic amongst the veteran community. One of the many challenges that veterans face coming home, in addition to physical injuries, PTSD, TBI, moral injury and other war inflicted damage, is the loss of a sense of purpose in their lives. This loss is felt both on a day to day and more general level. “Why should I get up today?” “What is the point of it all?” “What is my mission now?” To help escape the downward spiral that these feelings can lead to, sometimes some kind of a catalyst is needed, a new mission to accomplish that helps break the cycle of despair.
The concept of Patrol Forward is to help provide that catalyst, to encourage veterans to get out on a patrol of their own making. To discover something new, to find the good in the world, and to rediscover themselves as they once were and might someday be again.
Right now, the Patrol Forward founder, Douglas Cullins, USMC (ret), is starting his first patrol. For now, you can follow his journey, donate to vetted, impactful charities, and get in touch about future patrols.
The video below was captured in the middle of a near 100-mile ride across the Rocky Mountains. In it, Doug explains what this first patrol means to him and how it is helping him shed some of the armor he has been carrying for so long.
Doug is choosing to tackle this 2,750-mile mountain bike ride from Canada to Mexico along the continental divide in order to raise awareness of the veteran suicide epidemic and to raise funds for some noteworthy charities, including Mighty Oaks!
Go follow along and help spread awareness to this journey, but more importantly the cause behind the journey.
Support Our Nation’s Warriors
Many of our Nation’s Warriors struggle with the hardships of military service and reintegration back into civilian life; often leaving broken homes in their aftermath and comprise one of the most at risk groups for suicide. Mighty Oaks tackles this critical issue with our peer-to-peer resiliency and recovery programs offered at no cost to our honored service men and women. You can make a direct impact today and effect positive change through your donation, guiding our service men and women to find a new life purpose through hope in Christ.
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