Bernard Coffey of the Bernad Coffey Veterans Foundation walked 22 miles from Naperville to the Hines Veterans Affairs Hospital in Hines, Illinois.
Joined by others, the miles walked represented the approximately 22 veterans and military members who commit suicide each day due to mental health issues like post -traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries, and other physical disabilities.
“I hope that this walk will bring awareness to the suicide that’s plaguing out veterans and our military and I hope that veterans are watching and listening to know that I’m here to support them and encourage them through this walk. And I understand what they’re going through because I, too, struggle with stress and PTSD,” said Coffey, a disabled Veteran who served with the U.S. Navy.
Coffey also hopes that the walk and peer-to-peer mentorship can encourage those who need help to find it at veterans’ hospitals.
Naperville News 17’s Alyssa Bochenek reports.
