© 2024 Public Radio East
Public Radio For Eastern North Carolina 89.3 WTEB New Bern 88.5 WZNB New Bern 91.5 WBJD Atlantic Beach 90.3 WKNS Kinston 88.5 WHYC Swan Quarter 89.9 W210CF Greenville
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

350 mile fundraising ride to support veteran mental health to end Tuesday in Jacksonville

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston
Published November 14, 2022 at 9:35 AM EST
Jake Welch began the ride at the Hope for the Warriors Headquarters building in Springfield, VA, and after four days of pedaling it will end at the organization’s mental health clinic, the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic in Jacksonville.
(Photo: Hope for the Warriors)
Jake Welch began the ride at the Hope for the Warriors Headquarters building in Springfield, VA, and after four days of pedaling it will end at the organization’s mental health clinic, the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic in Jacksonville.

A Virginia veteran embarked on a 350 mile ride on Veterans Day that will end on Tuesday in Jacksonville to support veteran mental health.

Jake Welch began the ride at the Hope for the Warriors Headquarters building in Springfield, VA, and after four days of pedaling it will end at the organization’s mental health clinic, the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic, in Jacksonville.

A 2013 VA study showed that, statistically, around 22 veterans took their own lives per day. According to some sources, a life would be lost every 72-65 minutes on average, or 7,300 to 8,030 lives a year.

All of the funds raised by the ride will go to Hope for the Warriors charity, which provides many resources to US military vets and their families.
Annette Weston
Annette is originally a Midwest gal, born and raised in Michigan, but with career stops in many surrounding states, the Pacific Northwest, and various parts of the southeast. An award-winning journalist and mother of four, Annette moved to eastern North Carolina in 2019 to be closer to family – in particular, her two young grandchildren. It’s possible that a -27 day with a -68 windchill in Minnesota may have also played a role in that decision. In her spare time, Annette does a lot of kiddo cuddling, reading, and producing the coolest Halloween costumes anyone has ever seen. She has also worked as a diversity and inclusion facilitator serving school districts and large corporations. It’s the people that make this beautiful area special, and she wants to share those stories that touch the hearts of others. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.
See stories by Annette Weston