By Taylor Boyd
A Martinsville resident and Army veteran is in the middle of his fourth annual November “ruck walk” to raise awareness about veteran suicide and support Stop Soldier Suicide, a veteran-founded and led national nonprofit based in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Every day this month, Dennis Bender says he and several Army buddies walk at least 2.2 miles to raise money and attention for the organization.
“Each month, they have challenges to raise money for their organization. I randomly saw it on Facebook four years ago and decided, ‘let’s give this a shot,’” he said.
To make the effort more challenging and to encourage donations, Bender says the group walks every day and ends the month with a 22-mile march.
“It’s a minimum of 2.2 miles, but we’re doing more than that to build up to 22 miles so we all don’t die in our mid-40s trying to do it at the end of the month,” he said.
The 2.2 and 22 miles represent the 22 veterans who die by suicide daily, he says.
To increase the difficulty, Bender and other participants wear weighted vests and carry rucksacks that weigh 40 pounds.
The daily walk takes place on the Dick & Willie Trail. Because the trail is 11 miles long, he says the group plans to walk down and back on Nov. 22, then finish the final mile in the Martinsville Christmas Parade.
“We’re going to ruck march in the Christmas Parade and hand out brochures with a QR code,” he said, adding that he’s learned the QR code is the simplest way for people to donate.
Bender says his brother will also set up at the parade selling barbecue, with proceeds going to Stop Soldier Suicide.
The group also regularly stops in Uptown Martinsville for a few laps.
“Workers will come out and ask what we’re doing because they’ve seen us walk around,” he said. “We’re carrying a big American flag. We tell them the story and give them the QR code and that’s how they donate.”
Henry County Sheriff Wayne Davis joins the first walk every year.
“He’s a good supporter of everything military, so this is the fourth year he’s done the first day with me to help us kick it off for the month,” Bender said.
Each day, Bender posts their mileage on his Facebook page, along with a QR code for donations.
Checks can be mailed to Stop Soldier Suicide, Inc., P.O. Box 670212, Dallas, TX 75267-0213. The memo line should include “Tip of the Spear.”
For more information or to donate, visit www.stopsoldiersuicide.org, Facebook.com/DennisBender, or Facebook.com/TeamTipoftheSpear.
