The Shepherd's Men, a 17-member team of active and former servicemen and civilians are taking part in their 4th annual run in eight cities through Memorial Day. The group will be in Athens Sunday, May 28. They'll gather on the steps of the University of Georgia Chapel at 10 am before starting their half marathon at 10:30.
The group is running ro raise awareness for treatment options and suicide prevention for veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The Shepherd’s Men will run a half marathon (22 km) for eight consecutive days, wearing 22-pound flak jackets, symbolizing the deaths by suicide of U.S. veterans every day.
They're raising funds to support the Shepherd Center's SHARE Military Initiative (SHARE) which provides a 12-week rehabilitation program for veterans.
The run wraps up in Atlanta on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, with participants running into the Shepherd Center.
They hope to raise $2.2 million for treatment.