About this sponsorship: In honor of the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary’s historic ascent of Mount Everest, Patch and Grape-Nuts are teaming up to highlight those who inspire people around them to climb their own mountains.
Facing the Challenge
Thomas Sweet, 28, a federal police officer living in Glen Burnie with his wife and two children, is literally taking the steps to prevent suicide from affecting communities.
In early June, the U.S. Marine Corps veteran who has had three tours in Afghanistan will walk 18 miles in the Out of the Darkness Overnight in Washington, DC, to raise awareness for suicide prevention.
Sweet is also encouraging friends, neighbors and coworkers on Facebook and Twitter to donate whatever they can to the cause. Donors can make contributions of any amount, but he considers even a $5 donation as a sign of camaraderie battling something that affects people of all classes, races and backgrounds.
Finding the Inspiration
Sweet remembers finding a relative on the floor after a drug overdose suicide attempt years ago. He also remembers a brother in arms who took his life shortly after returning from the Middle East.
After his last deployment, Sweet himself battled a mild form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In the weeks since he pledged to walk with Miles for the Military, he has learned how suicide has affected his friends in ways he never knew.
"Anytime I talk to friends, I mention the walk, and I didn't realize exactly how many people it affects," Sweet says. "Almost everybody I talk to says they know or have heard of someone who has attempted or committed suicide."
Reaching the Goal
Sweet wants people at risk of suicide–of whom 90 percent suffer from severe depression or drug abuse–to know they are not alone.
He says this overnight walk, scheduled from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting June 1, will be the first of many walks and runs he's planning for the future.
To make a donation to Miles for the Military, visit Sweet's donor page here. To learn more about the Out of the Night Overnight walk, visit its website here.
Read more: Glen Burnie Veteran to Walk for Suicide Prevention