My name is John Veon. I’m riding a motorcycle 10,000 miles across the US in support of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

I’m a veteran of Operation Desert Storm and I’ve been to Iraq, where I served as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division in the first gulf war.

Today, I feel that the men and women who serve this country are owed our thanks and our help as they return from tours of duty in hostile places such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Our vets today face a host of serious challenges as they return from these combat zones, including debilitating physical injuries, Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and a multitude of psychological problems.

The suicide rate among returning veterans is staggering: one recent study estimated that 22 veterans a day take their own lives. However, there’s some good news: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) spearheaded a campaign to develop the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act, which will help reduce military and veteran suicides and improve access to quality mental health care. The SAV Act was signed into law in February this year.

I want to help – there’s so much more to be done! 100% of my fundraising efforts on the ride will go directly to IAVA. A trusted veteran-first charity, IAVA continually receives a 4 star rating from Charity Navigator and is one of the nation’s top ten non-profit organizations serving veterans. I am not using any of the funds generated towards my ride.

My goal is to raise $5 per mile, but I think we can do even better – so please join me on my ride! Look for #2wheels10k on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter and you can also visit my blog at www.urbanmotorbiker.com for stories from the journey.

Thanks so much!

Warm regards,
John Veon