Florida's Post 63 sponsoring suicide awareness event

In each of the first two years American Legion Hugh T. Gregory Post 63 in Winter Garden, Fla., sponsored an event to raise money for veteran suicide prevention initiatives, donations topped $30,000.

Post 63 has a big goal for the third annual Challenge 22 Suicide Awareness Event: to raise $100,000.

The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Nov. 16 at Crooked Can Brewing Company, 426 W. Plant St., in Winter Garden, just down the street from Post 63.

The event will begin with a 2.2-mile ruck walk; there is no cost to enter and participants do not necessarily need to carry a ruck during the walk, but donations will be accepted. After the walk, there will be a festival with live music, food, kids’ activities, and replicas of the Vietnam Wall and the Global War on Terrorism wall.

In an email to potential sponsors, Post 63 Commander Kurt Gies noted that “post-traumatic stress suicide is now the No. 1 issues facing veterans.”

“As we transition into our next 100 years, it is our dream that The American Legion and our communities will come together to do what is required to end this epidemic,” Gies wrote.

For more information click here.