IAVA | August 17, 2015
Read: Update: 2Wheels10K with John Veon
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Hi folks – here’s a diary update from North Carolina. I’ll be headed to Portland tomorrow to pick up the bike following some repairs and heading back to NYC in time for Labor Day. Stay tuned for more from the road and thanks for your support!
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.
100% of your donation goes to support veterans through IAVA. Absolutely none of your donation is applied towards the costs associated with my trip.
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 to us from these combat zones, including debilitating physical injuries, Tramatic 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 were taking their own lives. However, there’s some good news: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) has 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. You can also visit my blog at www.urbanmotorbiker.com for stories from the journey.