Despite a larger and larger spotlight being shined on it in recent years, the men and women who have served in the Military continue to struggle with mental health.
According to the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, there are an average of 17 veteran suicides per day, which is down from its peak of 22 per day.
A Michigan man is doing his part to help get that number down to zero.
Tony Blackall of Peirson Michigan is ruck marching from his home all the way to Road America in Elkhart Lake.
We caught up with him this afternoon as he disembarked the S.S. Badger.
“Me and my wife both served, and we both had a hard transition out of the military back to civilian life,” he explained. “We’re really just trying to get our stories out there and if it can save another life, that is what we want to do.”
Blackall, who is also a racecar driver, says Road America is very special to him.
“When I came out of retirement my first race back was at Road America so it keeps making it special for me,” he said. “They are huge supporters, it’s a great facility, and it’s pretty amazing.”
Blackall said that he is making a majority of the trek today.
“Today we are trying to make it to Howards Grove, which is 23 miles southwest, and then tomorrow we will finish our trip with a group, with 9.6 miles.”
That group will consist of numerous other veterans who also want to help raise awareness for veteran suicide and mental health.
We ask Tony if he was open to more people joining him on his trip, to which he said, “Absolutely.”
If you would like to help the cause, but do not want to ruck, Tony has set up a website where you can donate.
That site is TangoRomeo.org.
We will have more information tomorrow morning about when and where he will be starting his final stretch.
Below you can see an interview he did with the floks on the S.S. Badger.
