Twenty-two miles. One mission. A shared commitment to honoring veterans and raising awareness for veteran suicide prevention.
On Saturday, Oct. 24, participants in Huntsville, Washington, D.C, and Dayton, Ohio took part in the 11th annual RuckUp22, an event dedicated to raising awareness about veteran suicide and the importance of mental health resources, community connections and support.
The 22-mile distance represents the number historically associated with estimates of daily veteran suicides. Although more recent statistics differ, the number remains a powerful symbol of remembrance and the ongoing effort to prevent veteran suicide.
In Huntsville, participants traveled along the Aldridge Creek Greenway near Ditto Landing. Some completed the full 22-mile challenge, while others participated in shorter distances, all united by a common purpose.
For one Redstone Arsenal federal civilian employee and longtime endurance athlete, Amy Johnson, the event carried a significance that extended far beyond the physical challenge.
“Every mile had a purpose,” she said. “I’ve participated in many endurance events over the years, but this one was different. When our feet grew heavy and exhaustion set in, I kept the mission in my mind.”
The importance of the event became even more apparent after the finish line.
“After the event, I received a message from someone thanking me for raising awareness because she lost a veteran family member last year,” she said. “That message reminded me just how personal this cause is for so many families and why events like this matter.”
For fellow participant Emily Baggett, the event reinforced the importance of ensuring veterans know where to turn when they need help.
“What we did on Saturday mattered, Veterans need to know where to turn for help during their darkest hours.,” Baggett said. “Through my work, I have learned that we cannot always understand the struggles they face because we have not experienced what they endured during deployments. We should be thankful for that while recognizing how complex their challenges can be.”
Baggett emphasized that raising awareness must extend beyond the event itself.
“Events like RuckUp22 raise awareness and support the resources our veterans need. They have been there for us, and now we need to be there for them,” she said.
Her words reflected the larger purpose behind RuckUp22. While the event presented a significant physical challenge, its mission was rooted in compassion, understanding and a commitment to ensuring veterans have access to support when they need it most.
For the greater Huntsville community, where military service is deeply woven into the lives of residents, events such as RuckUp22 provide opportunities to honor veterans, strengthen community connections and encourage conversations about mental health.
Veteran suicide prevention requires more than awareness alone. It requires recognizing signs of emotional distress, reducing stigma surrounding mental health, encouraging individuals to seek help and maintaining meaningful connections with those who may be struggling.
RuckUp22 serves as a reminder that awareness is not simply about statistics. Behind every number is a veteran, a family, a friend and a community forever affected by loss.
For those who completed the miles, the finish line represented more than a physical accomplishment. It was an opportunity to honor lives, support those still struggling and remind veterans that they are not alone.
The distance was 22 miles, but the purpose reached far beyond the finish line. Every mile mattered.
To learn more about RuckUp22, visit https://ruckup22.org/.
Veterans, service members and their loved ones experiencing a crisis can contact the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1, texting 838255, or visiting VeteransCrisisLine.net for confidential support.
Editor’s note: Amy Johnson is a lead instructional systems specialist for the Civilian Human Resources Agency.
