Suicide Prevention Training

Each year, Hope For The Warriors® staff members attend Suicide Prevention Training with a representative from the Department of Veterans Affairs.  The training is invaluable for the daily mission of an organization that works with wounded service members, their families, and families of the fallen.

The training is only one hour--not nearly long enough to cover all topics.  But the training helps the Hope For The Warriors® staff identify those who are at risk and gives us the language and tools needed to approach veterans and family members about this serious subject.  This blog posting only scratches the surface.  Please find more information at their site.  

It is imperative that we all have a better understanding of suicide prevention and crisis management.  Here are a few of the important statistics:

More than 36K U.S. deaths from suicide each year
20% of those that die from suicide are veterans
33% of veterans who die from suicide had previously attempted suicide
950 suicide attempts/month by veterans receiving VA healthcare services

Operation S.A.V.E.

S-Know the Signs
Learn the warning signs of someone who is considering suicide.  Some of the signs include:

• Hopelessness
• Anxiety, agitation, sleeplessness
• Rage or Anger
• Engaging in risky activities
• Increase in alcohol or drug abuse
• Withdrawing from family and friends
• Talking about death, dying or suicide

A-Asking the Question
Although it might be difficult, if you believe that someone exhibits the warning signs, you need to calmly ask, "Are you thinking about killing yourself?"  It is important to be direct, calm, and nonjudgmental.  The goal is for the person to feel comfortable speaking with you.

Notice that you do not ask if they are thinking of hurting themselves or ask indirectly.  The more direct and calm you ask the question, the more likely they will be to answer honestly.


V-Validate their Experience
Be willing to listen and recognize their struggles. 


E-Encourage Treatment and Expedite Getting Help
Try to get the person immediate help.  If you are concerned for their safety, do not leave them.  Stay with them until they have gotten help.


Veterans Crisis Line
Learn the number, share with veterans and military families.  The Veterans Crisis Line number is 800.273.8255 (Press 1).  Or TEXT 838255.  This is open to all veterans and their families.  Anyone can call if they are concerned if a service member or veteran is considering suicide.  

Since its launch in 2007, the Veterans Crisis Line has answered more than 814,000 calls and has made more than 28,000 life saving rescues.

Besides information, the Veterans Crisis Line site provides materials for educating.  If you work with the veteran population, please visit the site and download the tools provided.

Our expert stressed one point especially--the VA cannot do this work alone.  It requires all of us to learn the signs and identify those that are at risk.

Couples that Run Together, Stay Together

There are many reasons to run--physical fitness, weight loss, stress reliever, and more. And for one couple that is close to Hope For The Warriors®, running has introduced them to their future spouse.

Loni and Greg met when they each joined Team Hope For The Warriors® to run the ING New York City Marathon.  Through the Team and their shared dedication to supporting the military, they quickly became friends and started dating.

Beyond the Team, Loni and Greg have supported Hope For The Warriors® through other fundraising avenues and volunteer work.  They have become significant friends to our organization and to our military families.

Last month, they married!  The entire Hope For The Warriors® staff wishes them well!

As in past years, we have race bibs available for the ING New York City Marathon, the Marine Corps Marathon and more.  We cannot promise that you will meet your future spouse but we can promise that joining the Team will go far in supporting our military families.

Read more about the Team and register for a race today!

FDNY Southern Rumble

4 motorcycles, 5,000+ miles, 15 cities, 2 weeks, $20,000.  All for one cause.

On August 9, four members of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) will kick off a 2-week, 15-city, motorcycle ride in their effort to raise funds and awareness for Hope For The Warriors®.  The group has set a goal to raise $20,000 through fundraising events throughout the summer.

The group includes four men who are avid bikers, but more importantly, four men that are determined to serve within their communities and country.  They include:

John Finnerty--Firefighter Ladder 29, Rides a Harley Fat Boy

Kevin McEntyre--Firefighter, Special Operations Command, Retired, 9/11 First Responder, Rides a Harley Road Glide

Jason Puser--Firefighter Ladder 29, Rides a Harley Street Glide

Chris Walsh--Firefighter Ladder 17, 9/11 First Responder, USMC Iraqi War Vet, Rides a Harley Street Glide

First Visit to Medical Center

Chris shares the reason he focuses time and energy on raising funds for the wounded. After he returned from Iraq and was discharged, he and fellow fire fighters traveled to Washington, D.C. to visit wounded service members in the medical centers.  As he spoke with the wounded, he listened to their stories, and learned what had happened to each of them.

He was speaking with a young Marine who had lost one of his legs in Iraq.  As this man shared the story of how he was injured, Chris realized that he knew exactly where this man had been hurt.

“The streets that I had been driving down (while in Iraq) were the same streets these guys were getting getting hit by IEDs.  I was just lucky.”

That discovery gave Chris another reason to focus on helping these wounded service members.  In spite of his busy schedule, he knows that it could have been him wounded and in rehabilitation at the hospital.

Jason, John, Kevin and Chris have all served many years within their local communities.  As firefighters, they understand first hand the importance of service within the community and our country.

 

Travel Support

The group seeks donations and support along the way for the trip.  The more donations they receive in hotel rooms, lodging, meals and gas cards, the more that goes directly to Hope For The Warriors®.  Their goal is for all of the funds to be donated directly to Hope For The Warriors®.  The full route can be seen at www.hopeforthewarriors.org/fdnyrumblers.  Stops include:

Ashville, NC; Nashville, TN; Memphis, TN; Dallas, TX; Austin, TX; (Day trip to San Antonio, TX); New Orleans, LA; Montgomery, AL; Gainesville, FL; Sarasota, FL; Key West, FL; Daytona, FL; Fayetteville, NC; and Bethesda, MD. 

Walter Reed Family BBQ

The last stop before they return to New York City will be in Washington, D.C.  The group is joining Hope For The Warriors® for a BBQ at Walter Reed Military Medical Center.  The BBQ will be open to service members and their families undergoing rehabilitation at the medical facility. 

All of the guys are excited and grateful for the opportunity to visit with these American heroes.  They are also thankful for the opportunity to tour the country, highlighting the important work that has been done by Hope For The Warriors® and the work that still needs to be done to restore self, family and hope for wounded service members and military families.

 

Second Year

This is the second year of the rumble.  Last year’s was called “Rumble to the Rockies” and five men rode west into the Rocky Mountains.  The group raised more than $18,000 and like this year, ended the two week road trip with a BBQ at Walter Reed Military Medical Center.  This year the men are excited to travel a new route with new people to listen to their message.

To learn more or donate, visit www.hopeforthewarriors.org/fdnyrumblers. 

Shawdust: A Wish Granted

In April, we shared with many of our supporters the Wish from David Shaw, a veteran who Wished for tools to support the growth of his woodworking business.  (We also posted the story here in June.)

Woodworking became a way to take his mind off his physical pain and instead focus on the beautiful pieces he could create.  His work also became a way for him to support his young, growing family.

Hope For The Warriors® is excited to share that we have granted this Wish!  Earlier this month, volunteers and staff members joined David and his family as the tools were delivered. 

Thank you to those that donated to make this Wish possible.  By supporting this Wish, you support the future of this veteran and his family.  Thank you for joining in our mission to restore self, family and hope.

Adaptive Help for Enthusiastic Hunters

Mark Kayser with a military family

Hope For TheWarriors® aims to restore self, family and hope to wounded service members and military families.  For some service members, that means a return to the golf course or a handcycle that allows them to compete in marathons.  For others, it is a return to the outdoor sports such as hunting and fishing. 

Today I share a blog written by Mark Kayser, Hope For The Warriors® national spokesman for the Outdoor Adventures Program.  Returning service members to the outdoors sometimes requires new, adaptive equipment.  Mark’s blog highlights several options for service members, depending on the disability.  Read Mark’s blog here.

Thank you to Mark for highlighting this important information.

Run Director Invites Families to Race

Mona and her family complete the Houston Marathon

(Letter to the Editor printed this week in the New Bern Sun Journal.)

As the Run For The Warriors® Director for Hope For The Warriors®, I have the privilege of traveling all over the country to host road races as a part of the Run For The Warriors® race series.  In July, I am delighted to bring the run to my own backyard. New Bern is a special place for my family. My husband and I have often chosen to spend his pre- and post- deployment leave in this charming Coastal Carolina town. We enjoy visiting this progressive town with a rich history.

Run For The Warriors® unites military and civilian community members, connecting and educating each on the importance of embracing their neighbors. The goal of each event is to establish a long term understanding and respect for the needs of local military families, and New Bern is a city that does just this.

July 4th is a perfect day to host a run that unites a community. Hope For The Warriors® is delighted to have the support of members of the community, of the Parks and Recreation department, and of local businesses in hosting this year’s 5K and Kid's Fun Run.

This year, I am especially excited about the New Bern Run For The Warriors® because my parents, two brothers, my sister, and a friend are flying in from all over the country to celebrate the 4th of July right here in New Bern. Everyone in my family is thrilled to start their holiday with a run to support our country’s heroes. I cannot think of a more patriotic, family-friendly event to kick off the day than the New Bern Run For The Warriors®.  I hope that your family joins my family that morning. 

I encourage the people of New Bern to come support the event either as participants, volunteers, or spectators. The runners will truly enjoy the crowd support.

For more information visit www.hopeforthewarriors.org/newbernrun or contact me at msims@hopeforthewariors.org.

Mona and her family at a race in Texas

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Who is that Masked Man?

Meet Scott Sunday, member of Team Hope For The Warriors®.  Read about his experiences in the Run For The Warriors® held on May 18, 2013 in Jacksonville, NC. Read more about Scott's adventures.

As Armed Forces Day 2013 approached, Emme, my wife, and I were heading to Jacksonville, NC to visit our friend, and Gold Star Wife, Veronica. Having often celebrated Armed Forces Day hanging out with friends, cooking out, going to the beach, or just relaxing; this year’s celebration would take on an entirely different turn.  Rather than relaxing, this year’s celebration was the culmination of several month of fundraising on behalf of Hope For The Warriors®; a fundraiser that would have me running the Run For The Warriors® Half Marathon in an elevation training mask and weighted vest.

If you find yourself asking why, you would not be alone; that was a common theme during the fundraiser and training leading up to the Run For The Warriors® event.  Simply put, I was wearing the vest in hopes that bearing a heavy load would inspire donors to donate funds to allow warriors and their families to bear a lighter load. I added weight proportional to the donations that were received.  The mask has a symbolic meaning as it restricted my oxygen intake making it difficult to breathe.  This is similar to the Gold Star family members who struggle daily to take a breath without feeling the pain of their fallen Hero.

 

As we were driving to Jacksonville I found myself abnormally nervous. I’ve already run a marathon in 29 states in my quest to run a marathon in each state in honor of fallen friends and heroes.  A half marathon certainly shouldn’t make me overly nervous.  As we arrived in Jacksonville it dawned on me that I was nervous because not only was I running the race on Saturday but I was also one of the guest speakers at the Hope For The Warriors® Pre-Race Dinner.  Arriving at the dinner I was quickly welcomed into the Hope For The Warriors® family.  There were several speakers during the dinner and I was humbled to be among them; sure enough, as soon as I finished my speech and returned to my seat the nervous were gone.  That is until we made it to our hotel and I started packing the gear for the morning’s run.

Friday night I thought about both the daunting task ahead of me the next day.  I awoke early Saturday morning, grabbed the gear and Emme and I headed to the high school for the race.  Upon arrival we searched for Veronica, and another friend Rocio, who had agreed to run the race with me to keep me company and ensure I was safe.  Quickly enough, the gun sounded to start and we were off.

 

We started off at a steady pace, even passing a few people during the first couple of miles.  But  I quickly realized that the mask and vest were going to be more difficult than I’d anticipated in the heat and humidity of the morning and I slowed the pace.  As we arrived at the aid stations the volunteers were incredibly pleasant, supportive and cheerful; truly a welcome reprieve from the lonely asphalt that lie ahead.  At one of the aid stations a volunteer, not realizing what I was wearing, asked; “Do you need all that to run?”  I got a good laugh out of that later when I actually had the energy to laugh.

 

 

As we continued to plod along, and the course grew emptier, I was truly grateful that Veronica and Rocio decided to hang back with me despite my slowing them down.  Finally, after a couple of hours the high school came back into view and we knew the end was in sight.  About half a mile from the finish we were met by Robin Kelleher, President/CEO/Cofounder at Hope For The Warriors®, who joined us for the final stretch.  As we entered the stadium and approached the finish line, a group of volunteers started cheering and fell in behind us; encouraging us across the finish line.  It was truly an emotional experience crossing the line as it closed the first chapter in my fundraising efforts; I certainly hope I represented the donors well during the run.  

It was truly an honor to be a member of Team Hope For The Warriors® and spend Armed Forces day running a half-marathon wearing a 39-pound weighted vest and elevation training mask in support of Hope For The Warriors ®.

 

 

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