Following his service in Iraq, Army veteran Jason Weaver struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and sleep deprivation. Now, he’s raising money to support wellness programs to help other veterans and their families.
On Saturday, Sept. 11, starting at 10 a.m., the Northfield resident will carry 22 pounds on his shoulders — which pays tribute to Mission 22, the organization his fundraiser supports — for 9.11 miles from the French King Bowling Center in Erving to The Country Creemee in Turners Falls and back. He hopes to raise $2,000.
Mission 22’s name is derived from the statistic that 22 veterans take their own lives every day, a rate that has been increasing. Weaver, who served in Iraq from 2003 to 2004 at 19 and 20 years old, revealed he’d attempted suicide three times in the wake of his struggles with PTSD, depression, anxiety and sleep deprivation. Because of this, Weaver said the cause resonates with him deeply.
Weaver’s own participation in Mission 22 stemmed from a sense of duty, he said.
“I believe if you’re going through hard times, you should do things outside yourself,” Weaver said. “Times are hard. Times are tough right now. … I just needed to do something outside myself.”
The act of walking with weight is called rucking, and Weaver’s fundraiser is part of Mission 22’s challenge to ruck, walk or bike for 48 miles in September. Weaver said he intends to carry a United States flag and a black Mission 22 flag with him on his ruck from Erving to Turners Falls and back.
Weaver added that the Sept. 11 date makes the challenge resonate even more with him and other veterans.
“I still absolutely remember the (terrorist attacks). … I had already signed up (to deploy to Iraq) and was getting ready to ship out,” he recalled. “I know that it was a time when everyone was hurting. I know that a lot of veterans were hurting.”
Weaver said he is both “excited and nervous” for the ruck. He hopes turnout will meet expectations both for fundraising purposes and to raise awareness about Mission 22. He encourages those interested in joining him on the route to arrive to the French King Bowling Center at 9:45 a.m.
“The more the merrier, the more awareness people will see,” he said.
Weaver said he has already raised $685 toward his $2,000 goal. Those interested in donating to Mission 22 can do so online at bit.ly/3yZMjp8, by contacting him at 413-325-4637 or frontlinetofatherhood@gmail.com, or by providing cash on Saturd. Weaver added that if businesses want to show support, he could provide them with donation jars.
Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-772-0261, ext. 261 or jmendoza@recorder.com.