Over $48,500 raised in the fight against Suicide, and AFSP's 3rd highest fundraising team that year!!

AFSP and the

THE WALK OUT OF THE DARKNESS

RUCK UP is a proud partner with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention [AFSP], and has been for more than 8 years now. We annually send a Team to the East Coast Overnight "Out of the Darkness" Walk, which is 16-18 miles. We also sponsor a Veteran's Day Community Walk in Honor of ALL Veterans lost to Suicide, and participate in Community Walks in NH & MA thoughout the Year. We have begun Registering our Team for this year's 2018 Overnight in Phildelphia, PA. 

AFSP raises awareness, funds scientific research and provides resources and aid to those affected by suicide. Too many people at risk for suicide do not seek help- especially Veterans. We need to find better ways to reach those who suffer, and encourage schools, workplaces, and communities to make mental health a priority. And the VA alone is NOT the answer. And RUCK UP has answered that call - to date being the most involved and outspoken of any Veteran's Organization to do so; fielding Teams to Walk, and raising more than $200,000 dollars in the fight against Suicide. As a Veteran's organization, we know too well the number 22. 22 that’s how many veterans take their own lives each day, according to the VA. Multiply that number by the simple days in a year, 365, and the total is OVER 8,020. More than 1/5th of the Nation's annual suicide deaths- Men and Woman who survived War and the worst that the military could throw at them, DIE BY THEIR OWN HANDS HERE IN AMERICA. And many sources have agreed, the VA's quoted number does NOT include all active services losses, or Veterans lost to substance, that the VA doesn't consider suicidal. That number is unreal- and terrifying. That number is also GREATER in one year than the combined losses from all branches of the military combined since 9/11. The struggle with suicide is very real. Most of us have faced suicide, or lost fellow Veterans or family to suicide- WE ARE LOSING THE WAR AT HOME. That’s why theses walks are so important. We need to raise awareness and get people the help they need. Our veterans have already sacrificed so much for our great country. Since our opening in 2010, RUCK UP has fielded a team of Veterans, (most of us disabled, but still recognizing the NEED for our help) to Walk in Communities and at the East Coast Walk hosted by AFSP each year in a major American City. We started with 4 of us willing to say, no more,..."NOT TODAY" in NY City in 2010, this year, we were 46.

This last year’s 2017 walk took place in our nation’s capital, Washington DC. The Walk was an enormous success. Ruck-Up had 46 walkers and raised more than $66,400 for the fight against suicide. We were the single largest team and placed 3rd again in money raised. On behalf of the Board at Ruck-Up, and the Veterans, We want to say thank you to everyone who has walked, was in our support staff, and to all the donors that made this possible. This is Ruck-Ups 8th year participating in the Walk out of Darkness with AFSP.

If you're interested in helping,...Contact us, or go to AFSP's Overnight Walk site on line, and look up RUCK UP to join our Team. Every Walker is expected to help fundraise, but we help our Veterans with transportation, and some of the extras it takes for a successful walk. 

WE ARE NOW REGISTERING OUR 2018 Philadelphia Overnight Team- as a Veteran or Family member of a Veteran- JOIN US on the Walk!!!

https://www.theovernight.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=register.start&eventID=523

We need to keep up the fight and support out brothers and sisters who struggle every day. Call a buddy and check in. Remember “Not Today”

Feel free to watch these videos on youtube of our team at the Walk Out of the Darkness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR2oVNM-Nyk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK43_3ifozY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-27fFEasB4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuFNNsIb6e8